NRA Sporter with a Fecker

[mjmd]

Interesting stock on this one . Does it look factory ? Not sure i have ever sen one with a Fecker. Winchesters, Lyman, Unertl..but Fecker. Scope serial is around 3000 . Anybody know the year of production on it or the power? Was in a auction a few months ago.

I always thought the nra sporter should have been America"s WW2 sniper rifle. Super accurate for the era.

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[#1oilman]

Beautiful rifle!

[browningautorifle]

Would I ever like to get my hands on that for a look...so to speak...beautiful.

[rcathey]

I love those Lyman peeps with the target knobs. Definitely something on a gun that makes me sit up and take notice!

[XTrooper]

Beautiful rifle! The stock is exceptionally handsome!

[CINDERS]

Agreed the patternation on the butt area of the rifle both sides is beautiful I would definitely put that one in the gun safe.........

[cplstevennorton]

I always thought the nra sporter should have been America"s WW2 sniper rifle. Super accurate for the era.

The Marines trialed a couple that were similar in the 1940 Sniper Rifle trials. Even though one of these below is called a Sporter, there really isn't evidence the Marines picked up any that were SA built. All I have seen points to they built all this stuff in house. There were many notes that describe they put 1903's in a M2 or commercial stocks and described them as a Sporter.

One was described as: A M1903 less fixed base, fitted with a lyman 48-C Receiver sight and mounted in a M2 Stock. With a Lyman 8X Junior Targetspot scope in lyman mounts

Another was described as a M1903 Sporter fitted with the lyman Alaskan 2.5X power hunting sight in the Niedner side braket mount.


From reading documents and adds back then, it seems Fecker's timeframe was mostly the 1920's. You especially see them a lot in that mid to late 1920's.

[mjmd]

Thanks for the observations gentlemen and I agree. The rifle was built circa 1925 and I believe the stock was sanded and refinished at some point in time or possibly restocked with a aftermarket. Thus my question The butt plate can easily be adjusted to fit properly with a little remilling on the top (1-2 mil) but I think I will leave that for the next guy in the chain. It also has a set of plugged taps slightly in front of the rear base, so somebody had a different rig on it long ago. The muzzle gages at 0 to .5 so it was not misused. I have not done the chamber yet. The finish is in excellent condition and so close to original color I can not tell l if it is original or restored. I will inspect it later for the tell tale signs . Originally owned by a Charles Stark of Portland.

Are there any notes in the USMC record regarding the result of the trials. Having shot many NM Springfields and Sporters it is my opinion that the sporter is a far superior platform for field use on many levels.

[cplstevennorton]

Are there any notes in the USMC record regarding the result of the trials. Having shot many NM Springfields and Sporters it is my opinion that the sporter is a far superior platform for field use on many levels.

You are really correct. The only thing that I would say is, the 1940 trial was heavily focused on heavy barrel snipers. Even though in their report they talk about previous reports that say a 15lb heavy barrel sniper with scope is too heavy for combat. But they decide that a heavy barrel sniper is desirable and recommend both the Model 70 Target model and a sporterized NM 1903 with a new heavy barrel installed as well. They first talk about the Model 70 Target model. But this is what is said after,

"We suggest two rifles, both highly procurable and practical. The first is described as follows: To the US Rifle Caliber 30, 1903A1, National Match, less barrel and stock and their attached parts, is assembled a high pressure barrel similar to that of the US Rifle, Caliber 30, M1903 Style T, 30 Inch Heavy Service barrel, but reduced in length to 24 inches. The rifle is mounted in a stock assembly, complete with band, sling swivels and sling, of the US Rifle, caliber 22, M2, or similar, which has been modified to bed the heavy barrel. In addition a recess for cleaning gear is drilled in the base of the stock and the stock fitted with the butt plate assembly of the US Rifle, Caliber 30, M1903. This rifle may be made up of parts standardized for years and easily assembled by small arms mechanics without special tools. The barrel length of the type of barrel selected is sound as proven by the several world record runs of bulls-eyes made at ranges from 600 to 1000 yards. ( I emitted some useless info)

The second type, which while having a limited usefulness, would prove valuable in special situations such as operations against bush-whackers, guerrillas and in a jungle fighting, is the sporter type rifles in 30 caliber. Several fine models are commercially available, including one of the model 70 series, but a satisfactory sporter type may be made up by small arms mechanics by assembling the US Rifle, caliber 30, M1903, less fixed base, to a stock assembly of the US Rifler, Caliber 22, M2, or similar. Fitted with fast sights, both telescopic and metallic, it would be most effective for short range combat: for open warfare and general sniping, it would be disappointing when compared with our selected snipers rifle because of it's light weight barrel and it's less precise performance."

[Promo]

While I agree on the nice staining of the wood, I might point out the oversized buttplate, an evidence for the stock having been sanded.