I was wondering if anyone knew the the weight of the bullets that were loaded for use in the 1903A3? I beleave it was 168GR or there abouts. If anyone as any more info on this subject. I d love to find out all I can.
Thanks!

James

The issue Cal .30 M2 was loaded with 150 grain bullets. Specialty loads such as Tracer, AP, API, etc were loaded with different weights.

The original Cal .30 M1906 was loaded with the same 150 grain bullets. The Cal .30 M1 (172 grains) was adopted in 1925 and the M2 was adopted in 1938.

Ray

To add to the good information Ray has already given you James. The 150 grain bullet was loaded to 2750fps +- 50 fps. The 172 grain bullets (ball boattails) were used in the National Match Ammo.

Jerry

Thanks!
So the M2 Ball, was that just a flat base or slightly cupped inwords, or was it boat tail like the 172 nat. match?
I know the A3's were the ones made during ww2 so I was wondering if the ammo was changed up slightly for them or if the rifling was the same as the others before? if that be the case I would have no worry's about using the 150's.
That info also probably explains why my 165gr cast bullets do on OK. I should try and push them a little faster seeing how I haven't see any leading yet.
Thanks for your help!

It seems you both are online, would you like to jump into the chat room?

James

The correct issue ammo for the 03A3 would be the M2 with the 150 grain flat base FMJ. Jerry is correct that the Match ammo was loaded with the older 172 grain FMJ BT bullet so anyone using an 03A3 in competition would have used that ammo. I doubt if too many 03A3s saw serious competition however.

The 03A3 was a wartime version of the 03 so it was made with cheaper stamped parts, and many with 2 groove barrels. But the ammunition stayed the same. Some of those 2 groove barrels shot pretty good BTW. Better than some of the 4 groove. Any 30-06 ammo should shoot fine in them.

Ray

I beleave my barrel has 4 or more grooves

When I got it, it seemed to me that it may have been something touched up by the CMP. This thing is in great condition!

Issue 1903 & 03A3 Springfield barrels are noted for their fine accuracy when compared to most other military rifles, and the 1903A3s have the best rep in issue form because of their peep sight. The number of grooves appears to be immaterial to the accuracy level, with the later 2-groove barrels often shooting as well or better than even some of the earlier 4-groove star-gauge barrels. The Springfield's peculiarly high accuracy level appears to be due in some part to the heavy contour of the mid-part of the issue barrel as well as the high level of the arsenal quality standards. Whatever the specific reason, the accuracy is usually easily attained and also frequently below the magic 1 MOA mark. I've achieved sub-MOA accuracy in a NM 1903 with replacement Remington 03A3 4-groove barrel using 168-gr HPBTs, 125-gr flat-base spitzers and 150-gr old-style Nosler match spitzers, among others.
Regards, Joe

Damn Joe! I was already looking into these bullets but had yet to make up my mind. But I think you really help plaint a seed there. For some odd reason I am quite fond of the RN's fallowed up by SP's. So now I know the area the rifle should shoot well in. The only thing bad about these are the rising cost of the metals used to make everything related to this forum!

Thanks Joe and everyone else who posted!