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.
