I too, have a fair number of these great actions on my rifles as does Mrs. Idared. They are pretty much my action of choice for most custom rifles with calibers that originated in this country. I do favor Mauser 98s for English or German rounds such as my 6.5X55, 275 Rigby, and a 9X57 that is in progress. I also favor the 1903 action over the A3s, preferably the Springfield Armory double heat treated ones of which I have three at present. I also have found the Remington 1903 nickel steel actions to be pretty nice to work with and currently two of them reside in the safe. I do have a Remington A3 and my Wife's pet 7X57 is built on a Smith Corona A3, so they can make nice rifles. It just takes more effort. I'm not sure how many other actions are packed away at present, but I still pick them up if I feel they will make something nice.



I have went almost the complete gammit when it comes to accessories on these fine actions. As others have already said the sky is really the limit, but you can put together a nice rifle if you collect the parts over a longer period of time, and realize that sometimes you are competing with collectors who are buying parts to put sporterized rifles back to military configuration. This is especially true if you need a 1903 milled triggerguard, but I have picked up several by keeping my eyes open. I prefer two position model 70 types built by Precision Metal, but do have some three position ones by the same manufacture and also some Buehlers. You can pick up a Buehler safety if you are patient enough. I recently got one on Ebay for a good price, but many go for two prices in my estimation. Most all kinds of mounts and bases are out there also and again timing is everything sometimes on those that are not popular. Older Lyman, Dahl, and Redfield banded ramps are out there to if you need one as are Lyman and Redfield receiver sights. I mention this because you indicated that you might use open sights and I always like to give a period piece such as a Springfield period type accessories.



I also like the Griffin & Howe style rifles, especially like the one below. I would like someday to have a rifle built in 400 Whelen in that style complete with side detachable scope mount and a Lyman 48 receiver sight and Lyman front band ramp. I do have to make myself believe it will be worth the cost to do it right yet though.











I also would really love to have a rifle built like this one below. It was built by one of the premier rifle builders of the day for my money. It styling still looks good alongside custom rifles of today in my opinion.







Good luck on your project. As others have said, keep us informed. Nothing stirs my heart like a nice custom rifle built on a Springfield action.

Idahred,
I looked at a Hoffman on a Springfield a while back, fully engraved and it was absolutly a thing of beauty..You would have had chillbains over it.

I would have brought it home but alas the pocket book was about 3 pounds lighter'n a cork, so I passed.

Idared,
That rifle is better looking than a team of naked cheerleaders.

Jeff

wonderful decision! Can't go wrong there. I have 4 springfields, 2 complete rifles (06 and 308 norma) a lone action sitting next to the bench and one 03a3 in the process of being customized.

You want to make sure of course that the handle when re-done is long enough to get a good grip, my 06 has a stub of a handle that functions but will have to be changed later to make me happy. Safety wise you can go with a two position up and down Buehler or buehler style (they are out of production but can be found, think I have a contact that has one that I was going to buy before I was able to trade for one, let me know if interested). Or you can use the MarkII safety, works the same basically but has a lever more shaped like the FN safeties than the wide buehler. If you want to go with that let me know as I think I have an extra one.

Alternatively you could go with a mod70 style 2 or 3 position side swing, I recommend the 2 position. I think I paid about 90 or 95 for the one I got from Wisner. but I had to have it installed by a gunsmith because maybe the timney trigger I have required the cocking piece to be welded up and a new slot cut for the safety to cam in.

The scope might sit higher than you normally are used to unless the persont hat does the work does some magic with the rear bridge, but like the other poster, I have never had one shoot bad and never noticed the scope being off for me. My 06 will do .5" groups if I can do my part.

Get an 03 and you won't have to worry about getting a new bolt and magbox/floorplate. if you get the 03a3 then you have a stamped magbox with integral (read non-removable) floorplate and a bolt that has spots turned down lower than the rest so it is a bit ugly. Of course if you find a good 03a3 cheap you can buy the other parts for about 100 bucks (trust me, I bought two sets, one for the 03 action and the other for the 03a3).

Since they were chambered in 06 there is no modifications to anything to get them to work, get a barrel put on it and headspaced right and you should be shooting. Stocks are out there, many companies have a pattern for the springfield. I have a stock on one that I like a lot and am going to have copied to a pattern for me as well at some point.

You will enjoy it, they are a good little action and good shooting rifles. Check the bolt fit to the action by the way, snug will be better than one that is real worn and loose, stay in the double heat treat or nickel steel serial numbers of course (the serial ranges have been posted here and I can lookup in my book for you if you can't find).

Red

You have the bug, so go for it! As to the options:

I will probably go to hell for my earlier years of "sporterizing" many a fine Springfield, Enfield, and Mauser. I have 11 Springfields I have or in the process of returning to original condition to make up for my mis spent youth. If you can find one someone else has started, then the sin isn't sooo bad!

The Springfield has a long firing pin fall time, lock time. Even with this, the ones I have had scopes on, shoot groups that would rival any rifle in the accuracy department.

It has a coned breech which aids in feeding of cartridges, theorettically, but is an inherent weakness I've never been concerned with.

There are plenty of barrels available if you choose to change calibers. Plenty of stocks and stock makers to sculpture it into a beautiful rifle.

You'll spent a lot of money getting it up to speed as far as drilling and tapping, altering the bolt handle, new trigger and safety. BUT, when you finish, you'll have the rifle you built, the one you always wanted, and you will have pride of it being YOUR rifle. Good luck.

As of last year, Buehler is still in busniess and lists the safety, rings and bases on his price list. Bob Ray (925)254-3201.
Bob

Great idea for a real classic and I have done that on several ocassions, but be forewarned it will probably never bring the sale price of a Mauser or M-70 pre 64...If that is an issue...

I wouldnt give up my Springfield for love nor money, theyll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

I have three Springfields in the works right now. Two 03's and one 03A3. Custom mounts are your best option for getting the scope low to the rifle and then it is even better if you send your intended scope to the smith also. That everything is designed to fit with your intended parts.

I opted to simply replace the bolt handles with aftermarket ones. This ensures good scope clearance and enough handle to work easily. Plus I think they look better.

Milled bottom metal is the only way to go. Weisner makes custom hinged bottom metal for Springfields. Although you need to call for availability as he does not make many per year and it may be a while before he makes more. The other option is to have your gunsmith modify your existing bottom metal to add a hinge and a release. This is the route I am going since the Weisner metal was not available when I first started these projects.

Safety choice is a matter of preference but you will need to change out the safety if you mount your scope low.

Cost. There really is no way to modify a Springfield on the cheap. It is going to cost. Although some things are nice to haves and some are must haves. Only you can decide where your desires fall. Changing out the safety is a must do. Although whether you go with a Beuler or Mod 70 style 2 or 3 Pos safety fall into the nice to have catagory. The 3-pos will run the most. Another nice to have is to maintain the cocking knob on the bolt. Doing this may run more money with some safety conversions as extra fitting may be required. I think they are part of the charm of the Springfield though. Hinged bottom metal is a nice to have and a good place to cut costs. Bolt handles is another place you can cut some cost. There is a lot of price difference in barrels too but you will want everything tured up upon installation. A trigger job is a must and a trigger replacement is nice but costs more. Stocks are where you really get into the cost of a nice custom rifle. Do you want synthetic or wood. If wood is it a laminate or solid piece and if solid what grade and type walnut. Then you get into ordering precarves or having the whole stock done by a pro. Blueing do you want a hot blue or a rust blue?

So the first step is to define your must haves and your nice to haves. Then set your budget and double it. After that try your best to stay within it.

Oh, I am going with 24" barrels on each of mine. One will be a .257 Roberts, another a 30-06, and the last is a 35 Whelen. A 22 inch barrel just looks stubby and in some situations a 26 inch barrel is just too long.

Thanks guys for all the input. I guess that this is not an idea whose time has passed. I don't hear much about it but can tell that is still alive.

I am not sure yet what parts and pieces I will use so all suggestions are appreciated. I am pretty sure I will go with a G&H style stock. Also I will use a 03 action not an 03A3.

I had forgotten that last year I had found my buddy a sporterized springfield. Issue barrel cut back to 221/2". I did some shooting yesterday and I think that I want a 24 inch barrel or longer? What do you guys think?

One problem was that the floor plate would detach when I fired the rifle with a 3 or more rounds. With only 2 rounds no prob. I have not looked it over much yet. Any thought on that, maybe replace the latch on the TG?

Jnoll said it real good! You will always go over budget, you would not believe how fast it happens either. I set a budget for the current project and am guessing that I am over by another 50%, and I am not done with things on it yet. I too think 24" is good unless you are doing something big and weight or handling comes into play. Hinged bottom metal I think is a great "nice to have", but I can't afford that type of thing. :-)

I was having the same problem as you with the floorplate kicking open, the gunsmith local just reworked the lockup area and it now stay shut no problem.

There are options to bring the scope down low, there are or were some nice side mount options as well. But it can be done. This 03a3 is having some magic done to the rear bridge and will end up having an integral base rather than mounting the base to the bridge.

Let us know how the project goes, great stuff.

Red

I can't think of a better action for a good classic 30-06 sporter. I have always wanted to build one myself along the lines of the old Griffen&Howe rifles but the project will be expensive if done right.