Would it be safe to rebarrel a 1903 to 458 win mag? Does the 1903 have the strenght to handle this cartridge?

Mike <mjines - here> did one on a springfield.. Tip Burns did the work.. I did one in a 416 AR...

an A3 could be considered a better place to start, from a strengh POV
jeffe

I have a PH friend in Zimbabwe who has a very nice 458 built on a Remington 03. Very nice work and a nice gun. Believe it was built by a Zimbabwe smith.

I had one I had built on a 1903A3. Worked fine other than the gunsmith didn't alter the rails to feed properly. I gave it it to a friend of mine and AKAIK, he never shoots it.
Paul B.

A goodly many springfields were rechambered to .308 Norma and that cartridge stresses the action the same as a 458 Win mag.

I'd say that there's more than enough info to support the Springfield to be chambered to 458 mag.

Thanks,just had to ask because here in Norway the 1903 is a very rare weapon,and I have not heard of any gunsmith having any experience with them. I have a remington 1903 receiver that has been blasted and reblued,and the bolt face and rail has been modified to take a 458.I`m just sitting here waiting for my barrel to arrive. My plan is to build a safari-style rifle with express sights,but there seems to be a bit difficult to find drop in stocks in wood or laminate in classic style at a resonable price.Anyone know where I can find tis?

I have one with a high number Rock Island action and an Atkinson barrel. Works fine.

quote:

Originally posted by magnumlars:
Thanks,just had to ask because here in Norway the 1903 is a very rare weapon,and I have not heard of any gunsmith having any experience with them. I have a remington 1903 receiver that has been blasted and reblued,and the bolt face and rail has been modified to take a 458.I`m just sitting here waiting for my barrel to arrive. My plan is to build a safari-style rifle with express sights,but there seems to be a bit difficult to find drop in stocks in wood or laminate in classic style at a resonable price.Anyone know where I can find tis?

You might want to check out Ed LaPour's three position safety that uses the original cocking piece. Very classy.

Springfield

Look under products/three position safeties/springfield

I would think there are a few american stockmakers with patterns for the springfield, I know that the Biesens have it listed for theirs and I know that Dennis Olsen has something as well.

Red

I've got a nice pattern
on the top pics, with two rifles, the leftside on is a springfield

http://www.weaponsmith.com/AR-rounds1.html

Chic Worthing (Customstox) also has a nice Springfield stock pattern.

quote:

Originally posted by magnumlars:
Would it be safe to rebarrel a 1903 to 458 win mag? Does the 1903 have the strenght to handle this cartridge?

IF it is a HIGH NUMERED RECEIVER, it certainly does!

I rechambered my GI 1903A3 to .308 Norma Magnum, and it shot 200-grain bullets at 3000 FPS. That load surely developed at least as much pressure as any .458 Winchester!

Use an A3 or one of the high-numbered actions! The "double-heat-treated" 03's are the best of the bunch!

"High number":

Springfield, SN above 800,000
Rock Island, above 285,507

"Double heat-treated": Springfield Armory SN 800,000 - 1,275,766

If yours is a Remington, it is made of nickel steel, as Remington did not make the 03 prior to November, 1941. Then they made M1903A1's, and later during WWII, the M1903A3 and A4 (sniper) versions.

The Remington 1903 receivers are very strong.