Need advice

[Jeff L]

Typical Swordbuyer auction.

Curio and Relic Firearms - Gun Auction - Curio and Relic at GunBroker.com


The item you requested has been removed from the system due to age.

-Jeff L

[Kirk]

Swap the barrel & parts. The stock will clean up very well. With a little luck, the bolt will headspace. Just have a competent gunsmith do the work.

[Lancebear]

Calfed,

Sorry I goofed!

Lancebear

[Chuckindenver]

Ed Hicks is a straight shooter, never had an issue with him.
no, our companys arent related..lol.

[Ed Hicks]

Swordbuyer is a dealer on the gun auctions that sells a lot of drill rifles. Many times they're not correctly graded as poor (rusty POS).

-Jeff L

Jeff, Just saw your statement and since I don't recall doing business with you I am curious about your presumptive description of my Gunbroker offerings ...I do, however, appreciate the swordbuyer special reference which is far better than the Special Ed that I have been called...Ed Hicks

[45B20]

Bb1

NO!!!!!!,,,,,,, it was NOT the heat treatment, it was the forging.

During heat treatment the receivers were covered in the carbon adding compound, they could not be seen during the treatment process and pyrometers were used anyway.

The single heat treatment was a good process and used by many. Problem with the M1903 receiver, it is not forgiving at all,, with any over pressure mistakes.

However if the steel was burnt during FORGING, it can fail at anytime over pressure or not (kinda like having a receiver made of cast iron)

‘My opinion’ I think most if not all of the burnt steel receivers have already have failed. But until I can be assured that all ammunition is perfect all the time, I do not shoot Low Numbers. Too few of them as it is.

45B20

[Cordite]

I bought a low number SA and these guys steered me right. Gave me a lot of good, solid information. I personally decided not to shoot mine, although many folks do. But from what I have seen in this thread, you are best advised to have the swap made by a pro. Good luck.

[daveboy]

My opinion FWIW: I have a high number 03 that I shoot with all types of homemade rounds along with surplus M2. I also have a low number SA (256XXX) rifle which also has the straight bolt handle which is suspect as well.
My train of though goes like this: This rifle was made in 1906. It was fed every type of 30-06 ammo that was around then (and the 06 ammo was still VERY new). Was probably fired with a very hot chamber (think firing range), probably fired with a dirty bore, and probably fired by many different soldiers. In fact, it was fired so much that when the U.S. joined the little expedition in Europe in 1918 the barrel was replaced presumably because it was worn out. Bottom line is that this rifle has fired very, very many full power rounds under other than great conditions.
Based on the condition of the bore in the 1918 barrel I don't feel like my rifle saw much service since then. It headspaces tight. I feel like if the receiver was inherently dangerous it would probably have let go many decades ago. Enjoying my vision (bad as it is) and the use of all ten fingers, however, I will only shoot low power cast loads just in case.
If you search in the different forums you will get plenty of information on this subject. Then it's up to you to decide.

daveboy

[Rick the Librarian]

Personally, I think you've got a parts gun. Use it for parts. The rifle is not collectable, is (probably) not shootable, and would be virtually impossible to restore.