Precission loads for M1903A3

[Kolenbrander]

Hello, here a post from the Netherlands. Recently bought a Springfield M1903-A3 Remington #3990989. Build from un-issued original WW2 parts, two groove barrel 6/1944, new C-stock, all parts marked "R". It has never been fired. My dealer suggests to shoot reduced loads, Hornady A-Max 150 gr with 27,5 gr of N110 powder. Factory loads are to heavy he says. I will start reloading myself in the near future. Does anyone of you have any experience in .30-'06 loads for this particular rifle? There is very little documentation to get over here.

Hope to learn from you folks.

Information

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[Kirk]

Kolebrander:

Welcome to the wonderful world of shooting in general and 1903s in particular!

Assuming your rifle was assembled properly and that parts are in good shape, it should be able to safely fire any .30-06 ammunition. Do you know why your dealer suggested using reduced loads?

Two questions: is the receiver unaltered? There exist a number of 1903s that were converted by the US Army into "Drill Rifles" by welding the barrel to the receiver and the magazine cut off to the receiver. The weld between the receiver & barrel was done on the bottom; to the cut off when it is in the up position. Any evidence of a weld in these places makes the strength of a receiver suspect.

Second: was your bolt headspaced to the barrel? A bolt must fit properly to be safe. Your gunsmith should have checked the headspace.

The Hornady is a good bullet. Since the 1903 is a bolt action, you can use any powder; there are no limitations as exist for a rifle, like the Garand, that has a gas operated action. I am not familiar with N110 but if it is intended for use with rifles cartridges & you have load data for it, it should be fine. The powders I have used include IMR 4895; IMR 4064; IMR 4350; Reloader 15; Winchester 748. I use Alliant 2400 for reduced loads with cast lead bullets.

I hope everything checks out OK and you can put your new rifle to good use.

[Calfed]

Kolebrander, In my opinion, N110 is much too fast a powder for the 30.06 cartridge. According to the Vitavuori reloading manual, N110 is in the same burn speed range as IMR 4227 and H 4198. These are very fast burning powders more suitable for lighter bullets in the .223/5.56mm class cartridges.

http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...oguide2009.pdf

The Vitavuori manual does list one 30.06 load using N110, but for a bullet weight of 57 GRAINS (?). I do not know where one would find a 57 grain .308 bullet and your intended load of 27.5 grains is below the minimum charge for that mythical 57 grain bullet.

None of my reloading manuals suggest using such a powder with medium weight bullets in the 30.06. Most suggest medium burn rate powders such as N140 and N150.

The Hornady manual lists a start load of 43.7 grains of N140 with the 150 grain bullets for a velocity of 2500 fps. This is a light load for a 30.06 and should be fine in your Remington. Hornady lists a MAXIMUM load of 51.2 grains of N140 with that bullet weight for a velocity of 2900 fps.

Hornady list a minimum load of 45.8 grains of N150 with a 150 grain bullet and a MAXIMUM load of 53.5 grains.

Always work up towards maximum loads cautiously and NEVER start with a maximum load.

Good luck, my friend.

[musketshooter]

Check with the Hornady company for a free reloading manual that lists all US powders and bullets. Don't take the advise of anyone over those manuals.

[Calfed]

Check with the Hornady company for a free reloading manual that lists all US powders and bullets. Don't take the advise of anyone over those manuals.

Here, here. This is excellent advice. Always use published reloading data from a trusted source. That is one reason that I posted a link to the Vitavuori manual and will do so again.

http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...oguide2009.pdf