Recent arrivals: RIA M1903 1908 & SC M1903A3 1943

I bought these two rifles in late September from a dealer in the US who exported them to me in NZ. I managed to get my sticky little hands on them just prior to Christmas...

First up is an M1903 made by Rock Island in 1908 (or maybe early 1909). This has all the early features I'd expect from a rifle of this vintage. It was advertised as 'parts correct' which gave me the idea it was in original condition, but some of these correct parts have obviously not been on the rifle since its birth. Not the sellers fault - more like me being buck feverish...

The rear sight, trigger guard and buttplate are all later parked, but most everything else 'looks' to be original...

Bore has been used - heavily.

Overall pretty happy with it - at some stage I'll look for parts to match the finish of the rifle.

I shot it today using a nice light load of 16.0gn TrailBoss begind a 155gn Nosler CC. I had some other light loads using some 135gn FTX and a starting load of H4895 to put through it, but I've never felt so apprehensive behind a rifle before so decided to give them a miss...

No doubt you guys will have more experience with these things that I - keen to hear your thoughts?

Secondly, my Smith Corona M1903A3.

Overall, in beautiful condition. I was hoping for totally original, but its had some parts swapped around on a trip to Ogden (or after..)

Bolt is Springfield, cocking piece, extractor and trigger guard should be blued, I believe.

I could get very used to shooting this one....groups shown are of some HXP 77 Ball.

Both nice rifles, and so very different. The first is more like artwork because it was made when they had time and the second is the workhorse that was rammed out as fast as possible. I like the old 1903 far better...as for correct or how to glean the best accuracy, I'll leave that for others here...

Nice early RI. Made in the first year of regular assembly line production and not made from earlier made and/or misc dated parts. It shouldn't be to hard to find those other parts, Ray

After January 1, 1907 1903 rifles not made from already made misc.dated parts, the bbl date and serial numbers indicate the approx. date the rifle came off the assembly line.

Serial Number Barrel Date
63499 4-07
65975 3-07
71587 4-07
87229 6-07
94160 8-07
10607 11-07 Added 12-29-19

Oops, 106067....

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Originally Posted by rayg

Oops, 106067....

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So my receiver was made in November 1907?

Its a shame the date on the Inspectors stamp is so worn as to be unreadable

Nice looking rifles, I have a a Rock Island 100438 same barrel date as yours. Congratulations they look really nice

Photo showsAttachment 104678 two Rock island rifles, sn 3670 was rebuilt and has a SA 6-16 barrel and SA single bolt stock. Rock Island 64145 has a RIA 2-07 dated barrel and single bolt RIA stock

Here's another recent thread with some other early RI, 1903's. Including RCS's and mine. Could you post some photos of yours Dunargo. Early year Rock Island rifles still in original form are fairly scarce. Ray
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=66080

Nice, decent M1903's are hard to find in NZ. I imported some receivers and made two 'parts correctish' WW1 era RIA's

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Originally Posted by Roy

Nice, decent M1903's are hard to find in NZ

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Agreed.

One of the old time collectors in my neck of the woods once told me there are virtually no original M1903s in NZ - most are made up from parts....

By buying these two rifles, I was hoping to break that mold and ensure I had something a bit more original than what is available in the small pool of M1903s here.

By The time most M1903's got to NZ in WW2 they had been though some sort of refurbishment, then the ravages of post war use mean they often in average condition. I have never seen an 'as first manufactured' SA or RIA in NZ, and actively seek them out even just to inspect them.

You will love that SC. I know for a fact my shoots better than me. A few years back I let a young fella with good eyes and the patience of Job sit down at 100 yards and four of his five shot string could be covered with an American dime (approx. 17 mm) and his flier took him out to a nickel (22mm?}

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Originally Posted by TDH

You will love that SC. I know for a fact my shoots better than me.

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I do enjoy owning the SC. My biggest problem with shooting it accurately (and the same problem I have - or had - with shooting an L1A1, or the 0-200 sight on an AR15) is I feel the rear sight aperture is far too big and my almost middle aged eyes have a difficult time putting the front sight in a consistent place in relation to the centre of the aperture.

Nice SC. I prefer the 1903A3 rear sight. Good 1903A3's are hard to find in Canada also.

Coaxed this nice little (a side from the flyer that I no doubt caused) group out of the 03A3 this morning. 168gn Hornady HPBT over moderate load of AR2206H...



https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...42ab6cc8-1.jpg

I'll bet they will even shoot better with 150gr flat base bullets like the original M2. I prefer a spitzer or spire point, 150 or 165 gr. Never mind the flyer.