My new toy!!!

[JasonA]

My best friend Ben (I call him my dad, since he has been there for me all my life) introduced me to reloading over 30 years ago. He also introduced me to some very fine rifles over those years. He is a sucker for a clean '98 action or a '96 swede. I have quite a few myself that will stack cast bullets in a ragged hole at our range. I have always be a sucker for '03s. Picked up a mark I rebuild years ago, and I had Ben, who in my opinion is one of the finest stock finishers alive today to restock, and glass it. I shoot that rifle nearly every trip to our range. About 4 years ago, I found a very clean SA 1903 with an 840000 range sn that i had to get. Last year Ben acquired an 03a3 barreled action that had a lyman 48 on it that was clean. He stocked it in a heavy target stock that fit him, but not me. I finally talked him out of it. Well, the stock had to go. I have always liked the look of the NRA sporters, so i was going for that look. He had picked up a sporter stock at a gun show a few years back for $25. After trying unsuccesfully to locate an original sporter stock (for a reasonable price), he went to work. Before all of you purests start pointing out stuff, realize I was going for a close copy. It isn't a perfect copy, but i think it is wonderful. I am including a before pic of the stock and after pics. I am one proud shooter now. It is glass bedded with a timney. It shot ragged groups at 50 yds all day before, i expect no less now. What do you think?

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[Salt Flat]

Jason, My hat is off to Ben. That is fantastic workmanship. Good shootin' too. Salt Flat

[Rick the Librarian]

I agree - as long as an original 1903 wasn't involved, nothing wrong with a good-looking sporter, either. Nice work.

[JasonA]

It was not original. Somebody put some work into this one years ago. It has a faint etched scroll work on the floor plate. The bolt had be turned down, the receiver was drilled and tapped, and the two groove barrel was set back and re-chambed to .308. This is a fun gun for me. IT shoots great and I'll have lots of fun with it. My son is begging me to take him to the range to play with this one. Light loads with cast bullets and a dream to shoot.