I Shot My 101 Year Old Rock Island Today

[ArtPahl]

Serial #347176. I have owned it since 2008. It was sporterized many years ago and nicely done. The stock work is first rate with expertly executed checkering and a contoured steel butt plate. Unfortunately, it was not well maintained and suffered abuse. There is a bulge in the barrel near the muzzle likely from firing with a mud or snow plug in it. For some reason that I can't understand, some one ran a reamer into the chamber increasing the headspace .025" over max! The tool marks can be seen at the shoulder of a fired case. As I've noted in another post, I form cases by necking them up and then slowly back down again to fit this chamber. In spite of all this, the old girl produced a 1.66 five-shot group today with an old Weaver K4 and my 82 year old eyes. It likes Reloader 15 and Sierra 150 gr spitzers. The barrel had been shortened to 22" but it still developed 2860 feet per second.

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[Mike D]

That's pretty good shooting. I guess the bulge is not close enough to the muzzle to affect accuracy much! Post some photos. I like seeing the many different styles of sporters. Never know what is going to turn up next.

Has any military arm been sporterized as much as the '03 and A3?

Mike

[El Woodman]

Yes...The Mauser Gw 98 and K 98...

[Ovidio]

Glad to read that someone still can shoot out there...
Enjoy you rifle sir. And think of us

[damienslc]

I took my Rock Island out for shooting for the first time a few days ago also. My # is 376k so it's about the same age as yours. I had a lot of fun and after about 80 rounds, have the bruises to show for it!