Nice looking 03 selling at auction today

[GUTS]

This looks like an interesting 03, I would like to examine it closer.
US 1903 Springfield bolt action rifle | Proxibid

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

You might want to check on the serial number of that one. I believe it easily falls into the range of the "low" numbers with weak receivers.

That would make it a wall hanger.

I'm no expert in these though.

[GUTS]

I have three 03's with below 800,000 serial numbers and I shoot two of them a lot. Call me crazy but I do. It's a crap shoot for sure but the low number of instances of reciever failures is enough for me to be comfortable shooting them.

[Kirk]

It is an so called "Single Heat Treatment" or "low number" receiver and probably the bolt, too. Some people consider them unsafe to fire; other shoot them regularly. What is generally recognized is that due to improper heat treating of some (% unknown & undetectable) receivers have little reserve strength. They will handle M2 ball ammo (not necessarily commercial ammo, some of which is loaded to higher pressure) OK - unless a primer or case fails & releases gas into the receiver. Then, if the receiver is defective, it most likely will fail. The bolt has a straight handle & most straight handled bolts have the Single Heat Treatment.

The rifle appears to have the correct rear sight & hand guard. The butt stock appears to have been sanded. The rear stock bolt was approved in 1908. It has "high wood" on the right side of the receiver ring. High wood was done away with in 1910. So, the stock may date from 1908-1910. Front stock bolts were added in 1917. The cartouche is not visible. Can't see the butt plate but I get the impression it is checkered, not smooth. Clips were added to hand guards in 1910.

Any info about the bore?

See ViShooter's excellent 1903 website http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html