USMC M1903 Is Chambering!!

Went to a smith this morning he disassembled the bolt, played with the extractor, used commercial ammo and the round seated snugly. The extractor was not allowing the base of the case to sit properly , resulting in the round being pushed into the chamber at an angle that prevented proper seating. Also, HXP cases will not seat at all, staying away from that ammo in the '03.

Thanks to everyone who rang in, I got a lot of important information and quite an education. You guys are the best. Happy Memorial Day "Airborne All The Way And Then Some!"

I would still be concerned that it won't chamber the Greek. It should.

should chamber Greek, roger that, taking it to another smith this week and see about squaring away that chamber, maybe just a shave will allow that USGI brass to seat...

... but did that "gunsmith" check it with gauges?

Resp'y,
Bob S.

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Originally Posted by Bob S

... but did that "gunsmith" check it with gauges?

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Wouldn't that require the gunsmith to actually own a set of gauges?

Getting harder and harder to find these days.

That was cold, Ed. Unfortunately, it was also true.

I needed a part for one of my rifles, and a local told me about a smith in this area who had been working on guns for years. I went to see the man. He had no shop, no tools to speak of, no lathe or milling machine, no nothing. He told me he had been a gunsmith for near 50 years. He didn't have the part, and had no clue as to what I wanted. If you live in my area, I suspect you know instantly of whom I speak.

Jim

Gee...using Jim's definition of his gunsmith "friend" (working on guns for nearly 50 years and don't know what I'm doing), that makes ME a gunsmith, too!! :madsmile:

Smith had gauges... old school guy, knows his stuff, one of a dying breed for sure.

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Originally Posted by edlmann

Wouldn't that require the gunsmith to actually own a set of gauges?

Getting harder and harder to find these days.

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We don't need no stinking guages! :nono:

We do everything by feel and eyeball, didn't you know that? :madsmile:

FWIW,

Emri

I have responded to many posts about "I want to be a gunsmith", and am continually appalled by the folks who think all they need is an FFL, a screwdriver and a file. Some are machinists or mechanics who don't realize that gunsmithing involves more than lathe work or knowing transmissions. Others are just totally ignorant; they once tightened a buttplate screw and think they are ready to get into what they think is a lucrative business.

I think the area of least knowledge, aside from the actual work, is in running a business. They don't know anything about books, profit and loss, record keeping, zoning, business licenses, fed/state/local business laws, etc. Some will say outright that they don't give a hoot about that stuff, an attitude that can earn a "go to jail free" card.

Jim

Gunsmith? Funsmith? I drove up to Mt. Lassen CC to have one of their advanced students work on a gun. Bad idea. Couldn't find a 'smith and the class instructor wouldn't do the job. One of the students followed me all the way back to my car trying to buy my Mauser off me, since nobody could work on it(and it didn't do me any good). If you guys are finding gunsmiths with no tools walk away. On second thought, run away.

hmmmm.
i dont have a lathe, no real fancy machines..
i own a good drill press, beadblast cabnit, a high dollar welder, and a air compressor.
i do have gauges, fixtures, and other handtools that make the job easier.
any machine work, i need done, is farmed out to a good friend that is a machinest, and knows alot more about how to do what i need done.
engraving is also farmed out, but i help, and he has a gun back ground as well, and does some of the best letter restoration ever.
i have a good barrel vise and wrench..
blue tanks. and a parkerizing tank.
i have {gun} hand, so to speak, and can work on most guns that come my way.
i specialize in what i enjoy, not what pays the big bucks.
iv never really thought of myself as a gunsmith, more of a vintage gun restoration specialist.
fixing modern rifles, 22,s , pump shotguns, ect bore me to tears.
i love taking a turd of a rifle, that has a sewer pipe for a barrel, and a oil soaked stock, and turning it back into a nice piece, and something you can shoot.
to be honest, the only gauges needed, are TE gauge, muzzle wear, and a set of headspce gauges, for whatever rifles you work on.
a Mike, and some other basic measuring tools.
anything else is added bonus.
i have lots of neet little tools and gauges that i use maybe once a year. and others i use daily..
so to say a guy has to have a lathe, and fancy machines to be a gunsmith is a stretch.
i know of a few gunstores that have all the hottest, coolest tools in the world, and they dont have a clue how to make anything work thats over 10 years old.