Suggestions for my Springfield

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lackeyse

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Kingston, On.
I have a 1903 Springfield and would like to put a decent hunting stock on it. Right now it is wearing a Ramline which is really low budget. The scope on it is mounted relatively high in order to accomadate the high bolt throw. Therefore I think a monte carlo stock is a must. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If anyone is interested in trading comparible scopes that would be great. Mine is a 5yr old Leupold VXIII 3.5-10x50mm in excellent shape. I am looking for an equal value scope with a 40mm objective.

Finally. I would like to have this gun protected with some form of gun coat, preferably black. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Steve.
 
There are lots of aftermarket stocks available for a 1903, Stateside. Not so much in Canada. Like the No.4 Lee-Enfield up here, it was one of the most often bubba'd American milsurp rifles.
"...the high bolt throw..." The front lens on your scope and that the rifle with the stock bolt was never intended to have a scope, is likely your problem. Even a 40mm front lens will be too big. Look into a 32mm lens with less magnification. Mind you, that's not going to fix the bolt handle. They can be machined to clear the scope though.
If you go that route, talk to the smithy about re-doing the metal too.
After all that, how well does it shoot? If you're not getting at least 2" groups at 100 consistently, you may want to re-think spending the money.
 
Bits of Pieces for the GunKote. While its there, have Barry bend the bolt handle to allow the scope to be mounted lower. Then you can go with a classic style stock, like the B&C, instead of the monte carlo.

www.bitsofpieces.com

If you want to trade scopes, put an ad in the Optics Exchange.
 
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In assuming your '03 is altered already for some sort of scope mounts, I agree with reworking the bolt handle (you'll need a new low profile safety as well, or a new trigger with integral safety). Your options regarding stocks improve a bit, Bell & Carlsen make a classic style composite which I agree is nicer than the Ramline. From a pure economics standpoint the money you will ultimately spend could purchase a decent over the counter solution. Having said that, my '03 has been fully sporterized including hinged floorplate, reworked and jewelled bolt, Buehler safety, trigger etc. and I am totally glad that I went that route - it's what I wanted. I kept the stock barrel to see how it shot before making a decision on rebarreling. Hopefully yours shoots like mine which is more than satisfactory. The barrel profile isn't the most visually appealing but it ain't broke so I ain't gonna fix it. If yours is unaltered and you have the original stock it may be worth looking into it's value. I'm definitely no expert in milsurp values but '03's seem to have gone up quite a bit, I'm sure there is somebody out there who could speak to that.

Cheers
 
skywrench said:
In assuming your '03 is altered already for some sort of scope mounts, I agree with reworking the bolt handle (you'll need a new low profile safety as well, or a new trigger with integral safety). Your options regarding stocks improve a bit, Bell & Carlsen make a classic style composite which I agree is nicer than the Ramline. From a pure economics standpoint the money you will ultimately spend could purchase a decent over the counter solution. Having said that, my '03 has been fully sporterized including hinged floorplate, reworked and jewelled bolt, Buehler safety, trigger etc. and I am totally glad that I went that route - it's what I wanted. I kept the stock barrel to see how it shot before making a decision on rebarreling. Hopefully yours shoots like mine which is more than satisfactory. The barrel profile isn't the most visually appealing but it ain't broke so I ain't gonna fix it. If yours is unaltered and you have the original stock it may be worth looking into it's value. I'm definitely no expert in milsurp values but '03's seem to have gone up quite a bit, I'm sure there is somebody out there who could speak to that.

Cheers
Click to expand...

This gun shoots very well. 1" at 100 yards with factory ammo and would probably do better if I spent some time developing a load for it. It is completely sporterized with an el cheapo Ramline stock and it sports the Leupold VXIII 3.5-10X50mm. I have no complaints with the high scope mount. My smith did an amazing job building the bases and mounting the scope. I was hoping to lighten up this package with a better stock and lighter scope. The gun cote would only make it cosmetically more appealing. I should mention that this gun was given to me so spending some $$$ on it does not bother me. It always amazes me when I shoot it. Just when you think you have made a bad shot it turns out dead on.

Thanks guys for your responses.
 
Years ago, I put a RamLine on an old pre-war model 70 that had been rebarrelled to 9.3X62, after the original walnut stock finally gave up. The plan was to use the RamLine until I could find another walnut stock.

The rifle shot so well with that cheap RamLine that I never replaced it. Shot better, in fact, than it ever did with the original stock. It was the rifle I used two weeks ago on my bear hunt. :)

Boyd Brothers would be where I would look today for a good utilitarian stock for a Springfield. They are relatively inexpensive and the JRS model is a great hunting stock.


You can get an uninletted blank that you can fit perfectly to your barrelled action. http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/BrowseEbus/JRSall.asp

It can finish up looking like this one, if you want to do a little more work:

Springfield358NormaMag.jpg



Ted
 
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+1 on boyds. I'm not sure about sporterized stocks but there walnut pistol gripped "c" stock could be another choice albeit modified for your case.
 
"...1" at 100 yards with factory ammo..." A rifle that shoots that well with factory ammo and a low end synthetic stock is best left alone. Changing the scope won't affect the accuracy(other than having to sight in), but changing the stock can. Mind you, you could glass bed a new stock.
This guy has laminated and walnut stocks starting at $110US. He's not Gunparts/Numrich. Add the W's. .gun-parts.com/militarystocks/
 
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