1903 Springfield's

D

Duncan71

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Hey all,

Lately Ive really been thinking that I need to get a WWI/II era bolt gun... Now I would get a mosin or Lee Enfield, but lots of my buddies have those and I would like something different. I never see Springfields around? Is it just because they are a lot rarer and therefore more expensive? Or have I just not been looking hard enough?

-Duncan
 
Springfields

Springfields are around but you have to look for them. I have 8 or 10 Springfields and they are just guns that came along and some show up at gun shows. You will find what you are looking for by switching from the net to other directions. I have been trading so long I have guns coming to me. If you want to go to a gun show and get in early like Friday, buy a table and sell some items or put on a display. That gets you inside for the real trading. I did more business before the show opens than at a two day show.
That's where you will pick up Springfields, M1's and hard to find guns.
If you have a group that regularly trades among themselves you will find all sorts of items.
 
"...Springfields are around but you have to look for them..." Yep and a lot of the rifles you do see are in terrible shape. Buying one in decent condition won't be cheap. You have to be in the right place at the right time with money in hand too.
 
03 Springfields

Finding one with a good barrel can be a bear.I've seen some pretty good ones which I passed on because of bore condition-either pitted from wartime corrosive primed ammo or excessively worn. If you do locate one which is sound and with a good bore, they can be set up to be about the most accurate MILSURP there is.New replacement barrels can still be found for the 03A3 model with aperture sight,but they are virtually unobtainable for the standard 03 model.Nowadays I would be prepared to pay $600 plus for a sound '03 with a good bore.
 
The last 1903A3 I saw for sale was at the Woodstock Gun Show a couple of months ago. The guy was asking $700 for it if memory serves me right, and it was in very good condition. I sold one that was mint to a friend a few years ago for $400. I don't think the thing was every fired, except for testing.
 
Springfield 03 & 03 A3's

I found a minty Smith-Corona 03 A3 for $50 a few years ago and some Bubba cut the forestock around the barrel band, and left the barrel alone. The stock had beautiful arsenal stamps all over it, otherwise it would have been a mint 03 A3. I later bought a suitable replacement stock off eBay for around $100 and the correct metal (some new and some old) for another $70. Sold the metal I didn't need for close to what I paid, so the gun didn't really cost a whole lot.
I need a complete rear sight assembly, or the windage screw for an 03 I am restoring. I have a receiver barrel and a complete stock set but missing the rear assembly. I received an assembly from another member of CGN but the windage screw is missing and there is some corrosion on it so if I can get a better one I would be all set to put another one on my rack.
 
"...for an 03 I am restoring..." Gunparts has all the sight parts for both '03's and '03A3's. No daft U.S. export restrictions either. '03 windage knob assembly runs $2.65US. No knob screws for '03A3's though.
This guy lists a rear sight assembly for an '03A3 for $50US. Add the W's.
.amherst-depot.com/gunparts.03A3.htm
Sarcoinc.com is listing sights for both too.
 
Sarco and Numrich sell alot of cheap cast chinese parts - no way to specifiy what you'll get on a given day. Buy with confidence from Northridge Int'l. Their prices are slightly higher, but it's real USGI parts you're getting.
 
If you want a really accurate milsurp bolt gun, try a Ross.

I know that Springfields are the zippiest thing since sliced bread...... been reading it in the US gun mags since I was in school.

But the standard of accuracy that is considered "high" in a Springfield can often be demanded from a Ross, any time at all. I think that Rosses are the most underrated rifles in history. Carcanos are next. And they both SHOOT, but I will state that the Ross shoots better. Feed them what they want and watch the under-a-minute groups come in, definitely from the Ross, possibly from the Carcano, sometimes from an Arisaka., and surprisingly often from the highly-disrespected old Smellie.

You can also get a Moisin-Nagant to shoot pretty well if you do a little bit of creative glass-bedding on the thing. Buddy of mine has one that regularly shoots into a 3x5 file card at 350 measured yards. Iron sights, of course.
 
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