Springfield 03a3 2 groove

[mas36]

Hi

Looking at a fine condition 03a3 remington from 1943 which has seen little use. It has a 2 groove barrel fitted, does anyone have any experience with these please - do they shoot any worse than the 4 groove (most of the shooting for this rifle will be at 100 - 300 yards.

Cheers

Glenn

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

The general opinion out there is there is little, if any, difference in accuracy between a 2-groove and 4-grove barrel. I've even heard of a few people who claim better accuracy.

[Sarge1998]

Chuckindenver built the 03A4 I purchased using a 2-groove, the first picture is 5 shot test fire using sandbags to test accuracy. The second is mine sitting on a bench using a bag to support the front, both shots are 100 yards, mine was a 4 shot group. Mind you this is using Greek HXP, Chuck says it seems to like that and I agree. I had not zeroed the scope at this time as I was still doing some touch up work, would probably be awfully close at 200 yards.

Attachment 38389Attachment 38390

[Chuckindenver]

i dont and wont ever use a SLED!!only girly men use a sled..that was shot off sandbags, with my shoulder!!!not off a Pu$@y sled lol...i tease those guys that think they need a sled...
man up....learn how to shoot!! and you wont need one...
if you break the barrel in right, and have the rifle fitted correctly in a stock...they will shoot better, and last longer then a 4 groove.
by the way, the rifle that shot those groups was built by me, match faced, and fitted correctly. all G.I. parts. with a 2.5 power scope. original A3,s arent match faced or relief fitted, please keep that in mind, if you cant get that kind of grouping from your standard A3.

[Sarge1998]

i dont and wont ever use a SLED!!only girly men use a sled..that was shot off sandbags, with my shoulder!!!not off a Pu$@y sled lol...i tease those guys that think they need a sled...
man up....learn how to shoot!! and you wont need one...

Obviously I was misinterpreted using a sled and that you just used a support, no need to get all cranky, you could have just as easily said you only used a bag.

[mas36]

Thanks for the comments and especially the photos. Deal done and I pick her up in the morning. Im initially going to run in using PPU 150 grain - the rifle looks like its barely fired anything at all so I plan to treat as new. From there on in its load development time.

For the record - NO sleds in use at my range.

Unfortunately there arent many folk who specialise in anything springfield over here, with most english folk (including me until now) being blinkered to the enfield. I have however decided to turn the rifle over to one of the better gunsmiths to sort if needed.

Thanks again

Glenn

[Chuckindenver]

not cranky...thats why i posted LOL..laughing out loud.. i have to laugh at the guys at the range, with those contraptions.
last month a shooter was using one, and couldnt get it on the paper..had all sorts of crap on his bench, wind sock, temp gauge ect,
after seeing my groups, and hearing me talk with the range officer, he asked if i would help him get his Ruger dialed in..
sure,
so i took all the crap off his table, removed the rifle from his sled, and set up some bags, first i checked and rebore sighted his rifle. sat down, and squeezed one off, 1 inch high 12:00, second and third shots touched.
told him to sell all that crap on Fleabay, and take the time to learn how to shoot a high power rifle..that in itself is more valuble then any junk you can buy..
have had many people assume, that the groups my rifles shoot by me were done so with a sled ect...no way..i learned how to use a rifle years ago, recoil isnt an issue, i do wear a high power shooting coat, keeps my elbows looking good..and is the only thing i assist keep the rifle steady, the reast is muscle memory, and breathing.
by the way, the red and white target was shot at 100 yards, off sandbags, with a range officer signed as a witness, 5 shots, 4 touch and one flyer. the flyer was me and my heart beating in the scope, with old eyeballs.