Low Number Springfield M1903 Safer to Shoot?

[Calif-Steve]

The M1903 design, with its cone breech, does not handle case failures very well. It is an inherent problem and is a matter for ALL M1903 rifles. Add to that the issues of the low number steels and you do have some concern. It is not hard to find high number rifles for sale at all big gunshows, so why shoot your low number. Fun keepers, but not fun shooters. I am currently re-barreling a WWII Chinese M98 Mauser. I have no fear of this action and will shoot it all day long. But I do not shoot my 2 low number '03's.