m1903 questions Help appreciated

[Bean_Bandit]

Recently purchased an m1903 from a local pawn shop, got it home and disassembled it, did a cleaning and inspection and every thing looks OK. But when I took it to the range yesterday and placed a round into the chamber closing the bolt was stiff on the round. I spoke to an individual that told me the actions on the 03's where always stiff and that it was normal, I personally think is not safe to fire. Is this a head spacing issue? The barrell is I think dated 1933 if I am reading it correctly, under the flaming bomb is 1 - 33, if that is true how could this rifle have not enough headspacing.

I am not familiar with these american rifles if this is a headspacing issue can you adjuist the bolt like the enfields by replacing parts?

Information

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[RBruce]

What is the serial number range? Are there any markings on the bolt (handle, rear lug)? Can you tell if the bolt is new (no wear marks)? Is the indexing mark on the ledt side of the barrel next to the receiver aligning with the receiver index mark? What ammunition did you use? Have you inspected the chamber closely? When you extracted the round, were there any scrape markes on the case? This information might help iin identifying the problem.

[Lancebear]

Beanbandit,

Does your rifle have a stamped sheet metal trigger guard/magazine or a milled one? A pinched stamped trigger guard can cause feeding problems. And yea...a new old stock bolt can be stiff.

LB

[Jeff L]

Can you post some pics? Worth a 1000 words.

-Jeff L

[Bean_Bandit]

ok some images, I made a red box around what I think is the alignment mark, the bolt is well used, SN# 97xxxx, milled and not stamped trigger guard.





http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3443/imgp0056o.jpg

[bb1]

If you have an empty case, by that I mean "no Powder", with a bullet seated. You can "smoke" the case, or balcken it, or use layout dye etc. Then chamber the cartridge. Scrape or drag marks can be found more easily.

[John Beard]

Recently purchased an m1903 from a local pawn shop, got it home and disassembled it, did a cleaning and inspection and every thing looks OK. But when I took it to the range yesterday and placed a round into the chamber closing the bolt was stiff on the round. I spoke to an individual that told me the actions on the 03's where always stiff and that it was normal, I personally think is not safe to fire. Is this a head spacing issue? The barrell is I think dated 1933 if I am reading it correctly, under the flaming bomb is 1 - 33, if that is true how could this rifle have not enough headspacing.

I am not familiar with these american rifles if this is a headspacing issue can you adjuist the bolt like the enfields by replacing parts?

The problem you describe could be caused by a number of things. But, you need to resolve the problem before you continue shooting the rifle.

You state that you "placed a round into the chamber [and] closing the bolt was stiff." The M1903 rifle was not intended to be loaded in that manner. With a round in the chamber, the extractor has to jump over the rim of the cartridge. And that can indeed be stiff.

Try this. Cock the rifle, lift the safety lock to the vertical position, and make sure the rifle remains pointed in a safe direction. Then, take a round, place it against the bolt face, and clip the rim under the lip of the extractor. With the round thus supported by the bolt and extractor, see if the bolt closes stiffly. If it does, then you have a headspace problem or a chamber obstruction problem. If it does not, then you need to load your rifle from the magazine in the future. The M1903 action is a controlled-feed type and is intended to be loaded from the magazine.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you find.

J.B.

[bb1]

The 900000 numbered Springfield was made in 1918. It was of the double haet treated variety. It should have the slickest action America issued other thah the Krag. I would trade my first born for such a unique old piece.

[Jeff L]

It might be an issue best resolved by a gunsmith who is familiar with 03s. The bolt may have been swapped out prior to sale.

-Jeff L

[us019255]

"... The M1903 rifle was not intended to be loaded in that ..."

On the contrary it was. In the good old USA at that time the military doctrine was that the magazine was to be held in reserve to be used only in emergencies. You can place 5 rounds in the magazine, switch the magazine cutoff to the off position and then load individual rounds.

You do have to snap the Mauser type extractor over the case head but, at least on one of mine that I just tried, there is a just noticable bump as you close the bolt.

If the action is not smooth, you need to find out chamber and headspace etc. as has been suggested.