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Thread: 1903A3/A4 Clone at 1000 Yards

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    1903A3/A4 Clone at 1000 Yards

    I had an opportunity to shoot my M1903A3/A4 clone at 1000 yards. This was a regular Palma/F Class type match, so I was firing along side some real special hardware. I had been firing quite a bit at 600 yards to test and tune acceptable loads to keep the rounds stable at 1000 yards and get an accurate consistent load.
    Some 200 rounds were fired over 3 days in match and practice, so some quality trigger time at that distance has given me some experience of the trials and tribulations of a 67 year old rifle wth a 5 ½ trigger, slower lock time, light weight barrel, full military configuration with a 3X scope made in the 60’s and ½ minute graduations. Not to mention the mirage and wind to dope out not ever firing at that distance before. I was firing at, and scored with the F-Class target which has the smaller scoring rings. Firing was done over sand bags.

    I was pleased with the results of, out of 200 possible, 153-1x, 156-0x, 159-2x, as most shots were in the black and no misses. Wind was tricky and mirage constantly moving.
    Firing at this distance is very dependent on steady hold, follow through, good ammunition, rifle and wind speed and direction judgement.
    The scope had 105 clicks of elevation so shimming the scope was not needed; however the crosshairs were getting close to the bottom of the non-centering reticule. For 1000 yard zero, the shots impact 38 inches (76 clicks) above the point of aim at 100 yards. The bullet time in flight is nearly 2 seconds. I used 6 o’clock hold just as personal preference as the crosshairs are so large they covered any precise aiming point with center hold and did a better job of judging hold off for windage. The scope was a gun show find for $30 and will shoot a ‘box’ with amazing repeatability.

    Rifle- M1903 A3/A4 Clone. 4-43 receiver and barrel. Barrel, stock/metal with a mix of original and repo parts, came off a National Ordnance (N/O). The donor M1903 A3 receiver was a complete, quite well worn sporter with the barrel cut off behind the front sight and Weaver mounts with low end scope found at a gun show. Bolt on the sporter was shop bent and ground for the scope. Barrel off the N/O has crisp rifling and appeared shot very little. Barrel was removed from the N/O and placed on the A3 and checked for proper headspace which was acceptable. Coincidentally, the barrel and receiver were of the same month and year of production. The rifle has not been re-parked or re-finished.

    Scope – 3X El Paso Weaver with standard cross hairs on Redfield mounts and current production rings. The forward screw holes in the receiver were Weaver spacing so the hole on the Redfield mount was re-located to utilize the existing hole. The rear did not need modification.

    Ammunition – LC brass WW primers with 168 grain Dietlein bullets loaded with Varget to achieve 2740 fps @ the muzzle to maintain around 1205 @ 1000 yds. The powder, charge and bullet you use will depend on your rifle.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Great shooting with that old clunker. You did better than I could with my A4. I hate that scope.

    jt
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    I have found 4350 to be the cat's meow. SDs under 15 and ES under 30. I have a load that pushes the lapua 155 scenar at a little over 3000fps. It shoots very very well and will clean the 600 target If I can get past the 1 1/2moa wide crosshairs of the Weaver K2.5.

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    From a year old thread but have been shooting this clone somewhat regularly and today more 1000 yd in some tricky wind along side some F-class buddies. Pretty good performance with Nosler 175 Custom Comps loaded just off the lands and enough Varget to keep it sonic at 1K. In the gusty wind got a 10" group and several 10's and X's in the string. The Weaver is certainly a challenge to keep in the center of the bull precisely, but it is what is is. The positive is the Weaver will repeat elevation and windage like a champ. The Custom Comps will hold 3/4" or under at 100 yds if any one is wondering how they will perform. But because the field of view is so large I can watch the wind flags while looking at the target. Those with 30X-50X scopes have to swing over to see the flags.

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