Gibbs 1903a4-got One

[mike radford]

I traded for one as much out of curiousity as anything. It was new, complete with the stuff, case and unfired. It looks very nice.

The bolt is very rough. The magazine feed poorly. Trigger pull is pretty smooth. Scope optics are fair but the reticule covers over an inch thick at 100 yds and I can see waves in it, i.e., not linear. The scope adjusters are located at about 100 degress apart vs 90??

Shot the rifle yesterday off a bench rest at 100 yds using M2 ball. After bore sighting via eyeball and checking everything for tighness the first shot was one inch high and one and a half inches right(I average less than 3 inches off point of aim on bolt action guns with this type sighting). Wow I thought, this may be OK. Next shot hits 12 inches away!! What the sh&%? Checked everything. Tried another and hit not near either shot. Many shots and just no group of 5 shots better than 8 or 10 inches(so bad why measure). I brought an old Tasco 4X in Redfield rings I carry for my two real A4's and another replica that someone put together because a real M73b1 is not exactly precision optics and I like to see what the rifle can do when I can actually see something on the target less than 4 inches in size.

The first few shots were close and the 5 shot group more like 4 inches. I fired another and the group was 1.375 inches, more like my real A4's with match ammo.

Next I try match ammo and the bolt won't close. I try another match round to rule out a defective round but same results. I am assuming this means head space is too tight but in any event I gave up and let it cool before I hit it with Knock out foam.

Pretty discouraging overall but I am sure I can make it shoot. Sounds like it needs a gun smith first. Any thoughts on why the m2 chambered fine but not the US military match?

I have a 330S but I hate the post reticule. Maybe a commercial Alaskan, or just use the Tacso for the range and leave the junk Chinese scope on it while it is not in use.