Have had a project building a 6.5-06 out of a 1903A4 Remington Springfield.

Original 1903A4 had already been sporterized when I acquired it. Had a 2 groove 30-06 original barrel that was shot out and useless and had the original WW II sniper scope still mounted.

Decided to make a "project" of it and rebuild it into a 6.5-06 so I could retire my 256 Newton.

Decided to get rid of the stamped bottom metal and bought all the original 1903 milled steel parts from Numrich to replace the stuff on the rifle.

At the same time I sold the original sniper scope and put the money toward ordering a Shielen barrel. Then I added a Timney trigger and mounted a 3.5X10 Leupold V3 scope.

Came back all newly polished and blued, but had a feeding problem. It would feed, but difficult enough to put significant scratches on the brass. I thought it was just a bedding problem associated with rebedding the action (widening for the Timney trigger) and the new bottom metal. BUT IT WAS NOT!! And after taking so much wood from the original sporterized stock that I essentially "ruined" it and still had the feeding problem -- like a dumb ass I finally took it to a good smith -- after I had alread bought and partially bedded a new stock.

The smith agreed he could fix the feeding problem. He installed a new wider follower, polished the rails, and had to grind a little metal off the top of the rear of the trigger guard.

I completed inletting the stock and then finished it. And with the rifle finally put together it feeds just fine. Took it to the range last Friday to finish breaking in the barrel and it was shooting some groups at MOA with me still cleaning between every shot.

I was just wondering if anyone had also upgraded their 03A3s or 03A4s with milled 03 bottom metal and had experienced the same problem.

If not, I thought that anyone contemplating doing the same, might benefit from this experience.

Barstooler