my new, broken 1903a3

[ssgross]

barreled action came back today. Great job as usual Chuck!
Attachment 120458
Bubba's bluing job wasn't the greatest, and now all that rightfully doesn't matter. Hopefully I'll have a range report in the next week or 2.

I sent him 2 barreled actions, the other was a highly polished a4 receiver that was another neglected sporter....that one is here https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....l=1#post506548

[ssgross]

I finally had time to finish this project, and blue the bottom metal.
Attachment 120722
The milled set goes on this rifle, the stamped one goes with an a4 receiver in the thread mentioned above. I blued these with mark lee express no. 1.
I slathered another coat of raw linseed oil on the stock today while I rust-blued. I'll let it hang for a week to cure before re-assembling everything next weekend, then off to the range! I'll post some before and after's in a range-report....remind me to glue in the rear screw bushing too...the holes on these minelli stocks are liberally cut and the bushing slips freely.

[ssgross]

Final stretches! After a week the stock is mostly dry to the touch, but still "curing". I assembled all, just hand tightening the action screws. My m82 repro came in from Hi-Lux and so I mounted the scope. I have an original redfield base with 7/8 split top rings. I tried mounting with both rings behind the scope knobs...but the rear ring then sits on the threads, and the locknut is just a hair to wide to clear the base, and the taper of the eyepiece quickly interferes with the base so you can just barely screw it on, making all out of focus. So, I had to remove the locknut to take off the sun-shade. Use a good set of snap-ring pliers to start the ring loose. There is some sort of orange wax..softer than loctite but enough to keep the ring from from coming loose, that holds it in place. Once that pops loose you can turn it with a finger. With the sunshade off, I could put the forward ring ahead of the knobs, and get perfect focus. Anyone have an untouched original? I'd be curious to see mic. measurements of it's length before and after the knobs, diameter of the locking, etc. Most of the pics of "originals" I see on an A4 show both rings behind the knobs.
Need to take some pics tonight I suppose...

[ssgross]

Here we go. Pics of the original condition I found it in...before I bubba'd-it-back, are in the first posts... here1 and here2

Attachment 120901Attachment 120902Attachment 120903
Attachment 120904Attachment 120905Attachment 120906
Attachment 120907Attachment 120908

All that's left now is a trip to the range. I'm going to let it sit on the rack for another couple weeks first to finish curing before I give the outer wood a gentle scuff with steel wool and tighten all the screws up.

[browningautorifle]

Looks just about right for some range time. I'd love to wring one of those out to see what it'll do...

[ssgross]

haven't decided if I'll blue the bolt or not. Chuck did a great job on the handle...but the underlying metal was tired and worn so I polished for functionality while I tackled the rest. Now it's kind of grown on me. The upper band is a repro. Need to find an original that doesn't cost the farm. The low quality of the Minelli walnut shows, at the base of the handgaurd and a bit around the butt.

[rugersworld]

Looks fantastic! Should be a great shooter.
You say the scope base is original? I thought the originals had the "redfield" stamped on the rear portion, right side, with the angled back part. Yours has the circle R stamp on the front.
I have one with the circle R stamp, and I have always thought it was post war.

[ssgross]

I suppose I meant original as in not a knockoff reproduction made in china. It's of course not parkerized, and has the rear tapped for backup iron sights.

[ssgross]

Just to close this out...
First time out range report is here https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....415#post508415

Thanks milsurpers for following along and for all the help and support along the way.

[1903Collector]

I normally seek NOS barrels when I need to replace one, but they are short chambered and you will need to cut the headspace. It doesnt take much and it is low tech, but the chambering tool isnt cheap!