My new 104 year old rifle

[daveboy]

Posted these photos on another site, but wanted to share with you as well. I just finished building up an "as new" 03 from parts I aquired from different sources over the past few years. I wanted my rifle to look and work as almost new, but I wanted it to be an early 03 with the old-style script. I got it to look pretty much like I want, but shooting it will determine if I was successful. Since it's an early model i won't shoot it much, but I do want to make sure it is accurate before I hang it up.

Enjoy the photos.

daveboy

Information

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[GUTS]

I think it looks great, I would love to shoot it!

[skip_c]

Isn't that a low number below 800,000. It might not be safe to shoot.

[daveboy]

Isn't that a low number below 800,000. It might not be safe to shoot.

Yes, it is definitely a low number. I referred to that in my original post. However, it headspaces great and I only shoot low-power cast loads through it using carefully inspected and prepared brass. Can't recommend anyone else do that, but I will.

daveboy

[jmoore]

I've a similar vintage rifle that I shoot fairly regularly. It does fine. Stick to loads w/150 gr flat based bullets at 2700 fps to replicate the original ammo.

[Mohawk]

Nice job. I love the old Springfield script. Has anyone ever heard of a 1903 low number blowing apart? Just wondering, as I have shot 2 with low numbers with no problems....

[daveboy]

Nice job. I love the old Springfield script. Has anyone ever heard of a 1903 low number blowing apart? Just wondering, as I have shot 2 with low numbers with no problems....

Yes, Mohawk there is a history of early (below S/N 800,000) catastrophic receiver failures. Do a search on this forum, or just google it and you will have more reading material and opinions that you dreamed possible. Like you,( and many thousands of GIs I might add) I have fired low-number 03s with no problem. Having informed myself of the "possible" danger, howerver, I will not fire them with full-power loads.

daveboy

[Rob]

Great job on the 03.
As far as shooting it,I wouldn't but to each his own