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  1. #1
    Legacy Member Doug2500's Avatar
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    Early Serial Number RI Sporter

    About 8 years ago I bought a fully stocked 1903 Springfield at a gun show. The receiver is a SA in the 900,000 serial range and the barrel is a 1918 RI. When I got it home and cleaned it up, I realized that the bore was too corroded to shoot it, so it became a wall hanger and I have been looking for a sporter with a decent barrel to use as a donor ever since. This week I found one at a gun shop just around the corner from my home, and bought it. Upon closer examination, and a little research, the sporter has a Rock Island receiver with serial number 3746 and a 1905 SA barrel, which puts the date of production of this rifle as 1903!

    What am I looking at cost wise to install the 05 barrel on the 900,000 SA receiver, as well as the reinstalling the rear sight on the 05 barrel?
    Am I better off leaving the sporter receiver and barrel as is, and cannibalizing the 900,000 SA to make a complete rifle?
    Is the sporter more valuable as is considering its low serial number range?

    My intent has always been to be able to shoot the rifles in my collection, and I have been looking at this '03 Springfield wall hanger for years now. The 900,000 SA receiver is in the safe heat treat range, while the 3746 RI is not. The 3746 RI has been drilled and tapped for a scope, while the 900,000 SA has not.

    Looking for some advise, opinions, and thoughts on what my best course of action is to get one functional rifle out of these two.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member bml's Avatar
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    For the cost to rebarrel, find a NOS or new reproduction barrel for the SA. Sell the sporter and use the funds towards the barrel and gun smith.

    CMPicon sell new barrels for $200 and will install them for $175, which includes transferring the rear sight. The good thing is the barrel will be finished reamed to your bolt.

    You could find a used barrel but they run $75-150 depending on condition. You would only save approximately 25% the cost of rebarreling with a new barrel and risk excessive headspace.

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    Legacy Member Doug2500's Avatar
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    I should have mentioned I'm in Canadaicon and don't have access to all the good parts you guys in the US do. Springfield's are a little more rare up here. And our totalitarian government probably doesn't allow me to import them anyway. Hence the reason it has taken me this long to find a suitable Sporter.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug2500 View Post
    What am I looking at cost wise to install the 05 barrel on the 900,000 SA receiver, as well as the reinstalling the rear sight on the 05 barrel?
    Here in Canadaicon...you can look on GanadianGunNuts and occasionally find a 1903 barrel. Finding the right guy to tackle it might be a search though. We could look at that once you have the barrel.

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug2500 View Post
    Am I better off leaving the sporter receiver and barrel as is, and cannibalizing the 900,000 SA to make a complete rifle?
    Is the sporter more valuable as is considering its low serial number range?
    As stated, sell the sporter as is and be done. Don't bother with it. Don't expect much money either as our market isn't the same.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    I'm on thin ice here, but are you sure the barrel is too corroded to shoot? It has been said many times on this forum that the apparent condition of the barrel might not reveal its true potential if you haven't shot it. Good, thorough, careful cleaning many times might reveal possibilities?

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daan Kemp View Post
    are you sure the barrel is too corroded to shoot
    The only examples I've seen of that for true are a model 64 Winchester that had rust blistered so bad in the bore it was actually obstructing and no amount of scrubbing would clear it. The other was a #5 Lee Enfield that had huge pits in the chamber that had me hammering the bolt open. The bore was no better...

    Agreed though, we've been through this a few times here and if it can be shot because the bore is clear...then try it out off sandbags and see if it will group. You may be surprised.
    Regards, Jim

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    Advisory Panel Chuckindenver's Avatar
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    I would find a post 1918 barrel for your rifle. and sell the 05 barrel. or sell the rifle.
    warpath metal finishing contact info.
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    Legacy Member sixgunjack's Avatar
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    Springfield 1903 rear sight coller installation tool

    I just purchased a springfield stripped receiver. does anyone know who sells the rear sight installation tool?

  11. #9
    Legacy Member Doug2500's Avatar
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    Update: I spent the weekend giving the 1918 barrel a though cleaning with wipe out. The good news is I think I got it to a shootable condition. The bad news is there pitting and little rifling remaining. I tried to get a photo of the bore, but it didn't turn out. A 30 cal bore brush is basically loose in the bore, so I had to use an 8mm brush. At the muzzle end,it swallows a .30-06 cartridge right up to the casing. It may shoot, but I doubt it will hit the broad side of a barn. Still thinking about taking both rifles to my local gunsmith to see about swapping out the barrels, but from comments on here it sounds like that's not the way to go. Hope I can get my money out of the Sporter if I decide to sell it. Thanks for your input guys 👍

  12. #10
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug2500 View Post
    ,it swallows a .30-06 cartridge right up to the casing.
    Have you looked for a barrel only on CanadianGunNutz? They do appear...
    Regards, Jim

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