1903 springfield SA-05 barrel????

Gentlemen I own a 1905 Springfield serial# 103,xxx and has a SA-05 barrel. Here is my question and I have two. 1. not sure if it is still chambered in 30-03 what is the easiest way to tell short of measuring? I understand there is about 1/4 difference between 03 and 06 but from where? 2. Why is this barrel not pinned to the sight collar? I have removed the windage knob and checked behind it Nothing and nothing on the bottom front or back. The barrel does not show the key way cut on the underside from an existing pin common to altered barrels. I am truly stumped on this one and have researched Brophy's, Harrison and Poyers books for info. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can be emailed at myoldstuf4u2@aol.com pics available

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Originally Posted by ibuymilitaria

Gentlemen I own a 1905 Springfield serial# 103,xxx and has a SA-05 barrel. Here is my question and I have two. 1. not sure if it is still chambered in 30-03 what is the easiest way to tell short of measuring? I understand there is about 1/4 difference between 03 and 06 but from where? 2. Why is this barrel not pinned to the sight collar? I have removed the windage knob and checked behind it Nothing and nothing on the bottom front or back. The barrel does not show the key way cut on the underside from an existing pin common to altered barrels. I am truly stumped on this one and have researched Brophy's, Harrison and Poyers books for info. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can be emailed at myoldstuf4u2@aol.com pics available

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(1) If your rifle has the original stock, then look on the fore end tip. If you see a tiny 1/8" tall "S" (sometimes looks like an "8"), then your rifle has been altered. Otherwise, you can close the bolt and run a cleaning rod down the bore and measure the length at which it bottoms out. According to Brophy, if it's 24.2", then the barrel is unaltered. If it's 24.0", then the barrel has been shortened.

(2) The Rear Sight Fixed Base on your rifle's barrel is pinned at the bottom front. The pin was contoured with a file following installation so as to be virtually invisible. Many SA/05 barrels do not have the keyway cut. Presence or absence of the keyway cut is no conclusive means for identification.

You can gather more information about your rifle from the book, "Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle Production and Alteration, 1905-1910," by C.S. Ferris and me. The book is currently out of print, but copies should be available on the used book market.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

Thanks John I have been waiting for a new book hopefully it is a little more useful than Brophys. Just don't understand what he was trying to accomplish his information is scattered around that book,it does look nice though! thanks again for your useful wisdom I'll look a little harder for that pin! Jeff