USMC M1903A1 / 1941 Sniper accuracy requirments

[JGaynor]

I am aware of the debate that some were converted USMC Shooting Team NM rifles but have read that this would not have been sufficient of these to meet the numbers needed.

Andy. Per memo from QM USMC PHIladelphia to QM USMC dated 4 July 1942 - 1047 Rifles m1903 National match and Special Target held at Philadelphia Depot.

Per memo from QM USMC to Commandant USMC dated 20 April 1945 "1750 Telescopes, Sighting 8x Unertl delivered under the contract. As of 20 April 1945 975 Telescopes remained in depot stocks"
(The last item suggests about 800~ scopes were assembled to rifles. The remainder were then subsequently used in Korea, Vietnam, given to the navy for mine clearance or sold as surplus.)

There is a lot more to the story:
i would suggest: "The '03 Springfield Era" (2003) Clark Campbell
"The USMC Scout Sniper in WW2 and Korea" Peter Senich, Palladin
For completists there is (or used to be) a package of USMC sniping correspondence covering programs from 1940 to around 1953 available thru Springfield Research Service. i have it but the most important documents are also reproduced or cited in Senich or Campbell. Also some of the copies are all but illegible.

Regards,

Jim