New Hatcher hole in 1903

[RDG]

My RIA 1903 s/n 151357 built in 1908, I think, came to me in a trade back in 1982 and sat on the shelf until recently when I obtained a go/no-go gauge set and found insufficient head space. The rifle has a scant stock and a SA-42 barrel, ladder sight, and came with no Hatcher hole. From what I have learned here and other places, I would think if the rifle had been pulled back in and overhauled for WWII that they might have drilled a Hatcher hole in it - not sure about the sight. Is that a reasonable assumption? Anyway, I am assuming this to be a "parts gun" meaning the barrel could have been put on there any time between 1942 and 1982 when I got it.

I contacted a highly recommended gunsmith who works as a gunsmith for a three-initial federal agency in DC for help, and he has reamed the bore to proper proportions and cut a Harcher hole in the weapon and test fired it. His comment was that the receiver was VERY hard requiring tooling harder than he normally needs to conduct the work he performed.

While it is not planned to make this a "daily driver," this receiver appears to be quite usable.

[ssgross]

Scant stocks were often used as replacements. At one point I saw a document, likely on this forum, listing scants as "field replacement" stocks.
I wouldn't be surprised if a 1903 re-barreled during WWII closed on 2020's commercial no-go gauge. Let me explain.
Commercial 30-06 gauges are known to be slightly undersize from the WW2 vintage USGI gauges. The reason was to allow the semi-auto garand to continue functioning with some acceptable quantity of mud, dirt, or other fouling during combat conditions. I have also checked many an expert grade garand from CMP, and they either barely close or fall barely a hair's width short from closing all the way on a forster no-go. I have been told the clymer gauges are somewhere between the Forster and original USGI. I don't have the clymer gauges nor a USGI set, so I suppose I could still just be blowing smoke. Someone else can chime in and confirm. In any case, if you close on a commercial no-go it is always best to check with the field gauge. Those brand new expert grades I mentioned come no where close to even starting to close on a Forster field gauge.

EDIT: Just to add confirmation, CMP Armorer John McClean explains more or less what I tried to say above in the gauges section of this article http://www.odcmp.org/0309/default.asp?page=M1HEADSPACE

[RDG]

Thank you for the response and the info on gauges. I failed to mention that I had also checked the head space with new commercial ammo and the bolt from another 1903 I own. Bolts failed to close at the same spot.

[ssgross]

and found insufficient head space

I need go stop posting late at night. I read the opposite of what you wrote! I've seen "short" 1903 chambers too. Sometimes there is some scale buildup or surface rust in the chamber, sometimes a burr. Sometimes it's the ammo, sometimes the chamber really is just a tad short. A light polishing of the chamber fixes the former, lightly chasing with a reamer fixes all the other. To polish a chamber, cut slot in the end of a 1/4" dowel. Fold over a small piece of 800 grit wet/dry and insert in the slot to make a flapper and spin it in the chamber. It's a good idea to mark the dowel so you don't polish beyond the shoulder.

[RDG]

Thanks again for your thoughts. Personally, I would have been uncomfortable going DIY one this one fearing I might ruin a valuable item. In fact, I am prone to leave any gunsmithing beyond minor cosmetics to a professional. In this case, I was pleased to have this experienced pro's thoughts on what heconsidered the exceptional hardness of the reciever after he used a new .30-06 reamer to correct the headspace and carbide tooling to do the gas relief. It was not cheap, but then the rifle came to me free with the trade of another weapon I picked up off the deck of USS Denver in the evacuation of Saigon.

[togor]

Hardness in a receiver or bolt are great, until they aren't. Maybe not best receiver on which to have a case head let go. You are wise to be fastidious about head space on this one.