1903a3 disappontment

[oregon96psd]

Hi guys, I've got a 1944 1903a3 that I put a no drill scope mount and repo m73g4 scope on. I've been shooting it at 200-250 yds where t was doing pretty good. (1-2" groups) Well today I set up a target at 450, and holding at the top of the target ring I was getting groups like this...

Attachment 53585

Before I went out I checked to make sure that the fore end was touching the barrel at only the pad on the end (it was), I was shooting handloaded 165gr spire point bullets with 48.5 grs of 4064 and also factory federal 180 gr spire points. The barrel is a two groove and looks great, shiny with deep rifling, overall the gun seems really solid. What else should I look for on the gun if anything, or what loads have you guys had good luck with? Also what kind of grouping should expect out of this rifle at 450-550 yds? Its gotta be better than this. Sorry if this seems kinda vague, but I'm new to long range shooting with the a3, usually use my 300 win mag. Thanks in advance for any help, and fire away with any questions!

Heres the rifle, sorry about the bad cell phone pics...

Attachment 53586

Attachment 53587

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

I would check the scope mount. The "no drill" mounts are notorious for not staying tight.

If you can shoot 1" groups at 250 yards, hold on to that 03-A3.

[oregon96psd]

I was hoping that was the case, but I pulled it around pretty good and couldn't get it to move. I think it was more of a lucked into it type of a deal, but I did have a four shot group that was within and inch, shaped like a square. I could regularly get 2" with it tho, then as soon as I moved the range out, it just went downhill....like it got smacked and jarred something loose, but I know for a fact it didn't. How much force should it take to pull the barrel away from the stock?

[CINDERS]

I gather they are 1"rings on the target so if you said a group of 5 - 5.5" well that's not bad for a milspec rifle @1.5MOA some things to consider the impact of your grouping;
Weather cond as it looks arid there, ambient temperature, time of day, wind, mirage, shot strings, cooling times, were the rounds in the chamber long or in the sun.
Case type, primer, COAL all can affect the way it goes I do not have an 03 only SMLE's and No.4's but I would be reasonably happy with that group at 450 yds

[oregon96psd]

Well guys first of all, thanks for the replies, and second of all I just realized that there is a lot of I's missing from my post's...and title, something is stuck under my keyboard

It is very arid here, but the temp and humidity have been very consistent the last couple weeks so I dont think thats the problem. Am I expecting too much out of the rifle? I do realize some of it is me, but I can do a lot better with my other rifles.

[vintage hunter]

As JP said above those clamp on mounts aren't very stable. Just because you can't feel any movement doesn't mean it isn't shifting under recoil.
I've read a lot of negative things about those repop scopes too. Most of it has to do with parallax issues, the internals shooting loose and the failure to pass the box test or return to zero.

[oregon96psd]

Well lets hope thats not it, cause i cant see well enough to shoot at 200 yards with open sights, let alone long range. Next weekend I'll shorten the range an see what happens.

[Ridolpho]

Oregon6psd: I wouldn't worry too much about groups like that at 450 yards. A lot potentially going on at that range including wind and coarse cross-hairs making it tough to acquire a real consistant hold on the target. Do few 5 shot groups at 100 yards (I would bet 1 to 2inch groups) and if the average is acceptable at that range rest easy that your scope mount is staying put. Regarding barrel up-pressure at forend tip, my own 03A3 seems to have about 5 lbs which is also what I attempt to set my Model 1917 and P14's at.

Ridolpho

[oregon96psd]

will do, find out this weekend. thanks guys.

[gunfish]

I think acceptable service accuracy for the A3 was 4moa. Your rifle is shooting better than 4moa. I am thinking your target is maybe 14 inches in diameter. I think your other rifle and scope combinations are just more accurate than the a3 with it's scope/mount.