Finely got a Winchester 03 .22 Win Auto

About four or five years ago I ordered 200 rounds of .22 Winchester Automatic rimfire ammunition by mistake. Rather than resell the ammo I decided to hold on to it until I could find a rifle that could fire it.

I had been looking for a Winchester 03 (1903) rifle ever since, even bid on a few at auctions. None ever fell below $450.00 that was in an acceptable condition and there were always milsurp rifles I wanted more so never shelled out the cash.

After work yesterday I wandered down to the gun shop and there sitting on the rack was a pretty little 03', when I asked to see it the tag flipped around and a $199.99 price nearly yanked the eyeballs out of my head. I figured there had to be something wrong with it. Inspection and questions and while I am far from an expert or even well versed on these rifles, I found nothing wrong. The rifle is in excellent condition for being 115 years old. It was manufactured in 1906 according to the serial number.

Since I'm working at the range tomorrow, she will be coming with me.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mod_03_a-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mod_03_b-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mod_03_c-1.jpg

Sweet little rifles!
Winchester and Remington had competing designs around that time.
The Winchester 03 seen here and the Remington 16.

Both were incredibly sleek designs. Futuristic even!

Nice, nice, nice...should be a very smooth little shooter.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

should be a very smooth little shooter.

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Jim, I hope so bore looks real good, no degradation at all. I'll be taking it out to the range tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by rcathey

Winchester and Remington had competing designs around that time.
The Winchester 03 seen here and the Remington 16.

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Now you are going to make me look for a Remington 16! the folks at the Winchester forum are telling me that the barrel has been changed at one time because the rifles built-in 1906 still had the MODEL 1903 stamped in the barrel, this one is stamped 03 which they say came later. Kind of interesting that someone would send it back to have the barrel changed.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Kind of interesting that someone would send it back to have the barrel changed.

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Well that’s even cooler! That must have been a well loved rifle.
How many rabbits and squirrels do you think it put on the table? :)

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Kind of interesting that someone would send it back to have the barrel changed.

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Could be the original was pitted from black powder ammo...and needed help?

That's a nice purchase

When I was at the range yesterday I was able to fire the rifle for the first time. I used Aguilla 22 Winchester Automatic ammunition. Even with my bad eyes that really had a hard time with the iron sight, shooting off-hand, I was still able to hold a 2.360″ 10 round groups at 30 yards. It’s me that’s making the groups that big not the rifle. I should have shot it off a rest or prone I guess. But just the same it is a truly accurate rifle.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Even with my bad eyes that really had a hard time with the iron sight,

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I've taken to shooting off a bag mostly now too. Unless I'm just gong shooting...I like nice close groups too.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I've taken to shooting off a bag mostly now too. Unless I'm just gong shooting...I like nice close groups too.

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Yeah, I guess I should be thankful I had good eyes until I got in my 60's. I struggle with iron sites now but just can't give them up. They have always been my preferred aiming method.\, I didn't own a scope until I was 26 or 27 the were a big no-no around my dad and grandfather.

Now I need scopes on everything. My eyes started to slide when I was 48. I was teaching recruits in class and had to start wearing readers to see the lesson plan. Now I see everything blurry, near and far equally.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Now I need scopes on everything. My eyes started to slide when I was 48. I was teaching recruits in class and had to start wearing readers to see the lesson plan. Now I see everything blurry, near and far equally.

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I used to consider using Scopes cheating haha, even for hunting but nowadays I rethink that quite a bit because my eyes have changed for the worst and I have had to put scopes on several of mine as well

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Originally Posted by jond41403

I used to consider using Scopes cheating

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I really enjoy hitting 2-3" gongs at 200 yd consistently. If an optic and sandbags do that then I'm good. I don't have the stability or eyesight to do it now. Just adapting to circumstances...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I don't have the stability or eyesight to do it now.

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I hear'ya Jim...

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by jond41403

I used to consider using Scopes cheating haha, even for hunting but nowadays I rethink that quite a bit because my eyes have changed for the worst and I have had to put scopes on several of mine as well

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Was raised with the same. Like you all my fun plinkers and hunting rifles have scopes. I put a red dot on one of our 10/22's and my son when he shot it the first time said, Dad this is cheating.

When I decide to go back to shooting my 303's again I am trying these out have a set home here (For rifles with open sights) as my eyes suffered allot operating cranes for 28 years you cannot move the sun so you did the best you could whilst not looking directly into it it was a fine line. And not every time you had a 2 way either plus these new riggers nowdays I did not have the time to teach them the whistle signals with the client watching the meter ticking over at $450/Hr with the 160 tonne crane sitting there doing jack sh*t.

EyePal Peep Sight, Master Kit, For Rifles, Pistols Bows | Pyramyd Air

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Originally Posted by usabaker

Dad this is cheating.

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I guess so, when I was teaching shooting and the shooter was a woman just starting out they need immediate results. I used a red dot and a .22 so they could put the dot on the shotgun shell and hit it first shot... Eyes would open wide, "I hit it!"...another hooked on shooting. Job done.

Here's a couple pictures of the competing Remington design I mentioned.
Just so happened to photograph this one tonight:

Attachment 118046Attachment 118045Attachment 118047

The 22 Remington auto is different from the 22 Winchester auto as I remember ?

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Originally Posted by rcathey

Here's a couple pictures of the competing Remington design I mentioned.

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That is a neat rifle. What is the knob in the trigger hosing for?

Interesting that the magazine tube pusher is pointed; wonder what the point, pun intended, of it was.

Thank you for posting pictures.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

That is a neat rifle. What is the knob in the trigger hosing for?
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That would be the safety.
Like your Winchester, it’s very clear the designer was purposefully making a sleek design. Tucking the safety into trigger guard was one more bit of streamlining!

That’s why I love these old firearms. From a design standpoint you can usually go, “yeah, I see what they were doing here.”

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Originally Posted by rcathey

t’s very clear the designer was purposefully making a sleek design. Tucking the safety into trigger guard was one more bit of streamlining!

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That's an interesting implementation of the safety. I do agree the design and craftsmanship of these old rifles are remarkable.

In my above post, I was talking about the cartridges, i believe the 22 Remington auto cartridge is different from the 22 Winchester auto cartridge

not interchangeable between the two rifles ?

I believe you’re correct.
The Winchester and Remington round will not interchange. Nor will the Winchester 1903 or Remington 16 work with 22 long rifle.

The theory for both was to prevent use of black powder 22 ammunition in the precise machined semi-auto actions.