All,

I've got a high number Springfield (with 03A3 bottom metal, unfortunately), a Remington 03 Springfield (with 03 triggerguard), and a Remington 03A3.

I'm a little torn on how to have them done. I'm NOT going to try to put them back to original. I LIKE all the gewgaws on the action (magazine cutoff, cocking knob, and even the safety), so I'm not going to delete those or smooth them. I may go for replacement scope-friendly safety and bolt handle. I may want to put in the faster lock time spring. I'd appreciate guidance/ideas on safety, bolt handle, and firing pin upgrade.

I still have the peep from the 03A3, and would like to have the 03A3 made into an iron-sighted heavy caliber using the original peep. Could it become a .458 Win Mag? .358 Norma Mag? .338 WinMag? I know the .35 Whelan's the classic, but I like the Norma Mag is .358.

The Remington 03 I'm thinking of either a .300WM, a .280 Rem, or a .270 Win. I'm leaning towards the .280 because it's a Remington, it's flat-shooting, and it'd still be a 5+1 rifle. I'm assuming the mags with all be 3 down only?

And the 03 Springfield I think should either be a 30-06 again, or a 338-06.

I'll want 03 triggerguards on the two missing them. Who does scope mounts? Is there a scope mount besides the side mount that'll work in conjunction with the Lyman peep?

I'll want them all blued like the original 03's (what grit polish?), except the 03A3, which I kind of like gray/parkerized. If I leave the 03A3 park'd, I won't change the bottom metal to 03 triggerguard.

I don't know what I'm going to do about the stocks. I'd like a wooden stock with some drop and no cheekpiece. Is there a semi-inletted one that's any good?

Let me know how you'd do it, and what else you'd do.

Thanks,

Steve

Turning 1903 parts guns or actions into sporters is still justifiable but I wouldn't go out of my way to strain them with a magnum rechambering, not when you can buy a modern rifle with much better gas handling off the shelf for less than the cost of the gunsmithing required. If you need more bullet than the 35 Whelen how about a 9.3x62mm? Same goes for choosing the 270, 280, or 30'06 over the 7mm or 300 magnums. And instead of squeezing the 458 Winchester into a 1903 (I did read an article about such a beast back in the day) a serious guncrank might see about recreating a 400 Whelen. There's little a fella can do with a magnum he can't do with these so long as he's willing to get a little closer. As for scope mounts mine is a Clifton/Gunsite 30'06 pseudoscout these days, but if I could find the Lyman (or was it Redfield?) one piece base with the foldup aperture I might be inclined to rebarrel it to the Whelen or the 9.3x62. To my eye a quality sidemount wouldn't look out of place on a wood stocked sporter done in the Sedgley or G&H style. Finally, while scout scopes are function rather than pretty an XS scout mount would allow you to use receiver sights, original safeties, and unturned bolt handles. $0.02 Good hunting!

Well, I think matched sets is such a great way to go. Though I do disagree with some of the thought on things, especially like parkerizing, I do think that the idea of using them is great.

A triumverate of "whelens" could be great, you could go 35 whelen (recent article I read says it is the most efficient cartridge, and even better if you go ackley improved), 375 whelen, and 400 whelen. 338-06, 375 Taylor and 416 Taylor would be cool as well.

I have a 308 Norma on a double heat treat springfield, my whelen is on an enfield so sadly I don't have a matched set, because a 358 Norma on a springfield would be such a cool match. You could do those and then a 375x350 rem mag, very good performance for the package size.

what would I personally do? I think I'd get a 257 Roberts (improved, have one in the safe but it isn't mine), a 35 whelen and a 416 Taylor. You can do a 458 so don't let that stop you, but it will take some work and you need a good smith. Here's a pic for you, 416 Taylor in an 03a3 (03 would be first choice of course if going custom route, but I had a reason for using this action).



Red

Thanks MB and Dago Red.

I'm a little torn on the calibers. I'm leaning towards something traditionally chambered in the Springfield sporters. I'm including the Norma Mags in this traditional category. I've read enough that I believe the actions will hold up to the magnums, but I hate to give up the smooth feeding and magazine capacity of the 30-06 based cartridges. But I'd like to use these rifles, too. And when I go rifle-hunting, it's almost always a long trip to where I'm going. So I cheat and bring a medium caliber magnum that I know I can shoot a long ways and that has enough bullet weight to handle a nasty encounter. I "hunt close" here in the Eastern woods, but rifle-hunting isn't allowed in my county or any of the surrounding counties, so it's mostly bowhunting for me. So short-range brush cartridge rifles are mostly destined for safe-queenhood.

I want a .338WM and a .458WM eventually, which is why those're on the list. The .300WM is awfully versatile, and I'd use it. But I might also use a .270 or .280. They're flat-shooting, 30-06 based, and the .280 has heavy bullets available. Plus I've shot 30-06/.308/.223 effectively at 500 yds before; it's just a matter of being more careful about range and holdover.

Leaving the 03-A3 park'd is maybe a bad idea, but the action's going to require a lot more money to make it smooth, and the gray finish on the one I got looks super!

I'll look at the scout scope. 9.3x62 is a great idea, but I've got a CZ Lux in that caliber already, so I was leaning towards a .358 in that power range. I'm going to look into the Whelen triplets.

Thanks, keep the ideas coming.

Who has stock patterns? Wenig?

And is the capacity for magnum rounds in the Springfield 3?

Steve

Well here is what I am doing. I have two Springfield 1903's (Double Heat Treated), and one Remington 03-A3 with 03 bottom metal. All are getting custom bolt knobs (though each will be distinct), jewelled bolts, the bottom metal modified for hinged floor plates, custom scope mounts, all had aftermarked triggers, all will be slow rust blued and will sit in English Walnut. I went with 257 Roberts, 30-06, and 35 Whelen. The 9.3 Mauser was in consideration for a while but I went the classic route.

Another poster here has several Springfields one of which is a super nice 338 Win Mag. Send a note to Idared and ask about his rifle. 375 or 416 Taylor would work just as well since they use the same parent case. Either neck up a 338WM or neck down a 458 WM. Therefore one would assume the 458 would also fit. Now what fit and what the action can stand up to may be different things so for final decisions it is best to consult a compotent smith.

Jim Dubell is doing the metal work, Roger Kehr did my bolt knobs and will ad some more engraving to the 30-06, and Chic Worthing has consentented to work his magic on the stocks and blueing.

Noll that is a sweet set! This one you see pictured is incredible. It is a gift for my stepfather, still be finished up then I am going to have the audaactiy to stock it myself. The only thing it don't have is the hinged bottom metal, something that my stepfather doesn't personally care for and since it ain't for me........

You have picked some great crafstman too, great way to go about it. I might add that Scrollcutter could very simply add your monogram or initals to the trigger guard as well (he did mine on my 375 H&H).

Steve,

I am really wanting to try a Biesen pattern for an 03. I have a pattern here I am working on from Dennis Olson (spelling?) in Montana. very nice guy but the pattern is not what I would have liked to start with for my first foray into stockmaking. too closed a grip and it had a cheekpiece. But he left me plenty of wood to play with and it is for pattern anyways.

GAG I think it is (great american gunstocks) I hear has a Griffin & Howe pattern which might also work good. And if you aren't sure, do what I am doing, start with an inexpensive pattern, get it shaped the way you want it, then glass the metal in (not permanent, but with something to fill all voids and give exact fit) then send off for duplication on a real high tolerance machine like a Hoenig.

If you are talking about traditionally chambered sporter springfields the 308 norma is right up there in the top of the list. I have two springfields in the safe in that chambering. I have not worked mine up yet (only had it 5 years ) but my stepfather was getting I think around 3100fps chrono'd with 180g bullets. about the same in his brothers mauser 308 norma.

Hey Jnoll, how about some pics?!!

Red

What about something like the 10.75x68 (I hope I have the cal right it's slipped my mind) mauser thats is a .423"cal size and can fit in a standard sized action, Horneber make brass and it can send a 350 gr woodleigh down range at around 2300 fps or more I think. I would like to do one it's a .404 with out all the extensive action work and it will have some class as well !!

I've got custom springfields in 257 roberts, 358win, 300 winmag, and 257x300wsm.. ..

here's something that most people don't understand.. if the gun is safe for the PRESSURE of a 264 win mag, it's safe for the PRESSURE of a 458 winmag... because PRESSURE is not what we are talking about when discussing the strength of X action.

we are talking about BOLT THRUST which is a function of the pressure of the round and the surface area of the case head....
so, if a 7 rem mag.. or a 308 norma, are safe in X action, a 416 taylor, loaded to the same pressure, has the same bolt thrust..

if you are irresponsible in pressure, you will blow up actions... but that applies to brand new "three rings of steel" as well as a 70 year old gun.

Glad you found the bottom metals.. they can get spendy.

well done on the springfields, and i find them to be much "neater" than most mausers... and more work

jeffe

As usual, Jeffeosso knows what he is talking about.

'03 Springfields, properly done and properly fed, are definitely safe for standard belted mag cartridges. In 1970 I converted one which had been a .30-06 over-the course rifle by John Buhmiller into a .358 Norma Mag, by having the barrel re-bored/re-chambered (Al Peterson, Riverhurst, Saskatchewan did the work). For many years it was the most accurate field rifle I had ever owned. First 3 shots with 250 gr. Hornadys almost always clover-leafed at 100 yards, 3/4" sbove point of aim It actually did better with the 275 gr. Hornadys, but they were discontinued soon after the rebore was completed..

I still have a Rock Island '03 action with Bill Atkinson barrel fitted by Paul Marquart in .458 Winchester which feeds, functions, etc. just perfectly. So, that can be done too, but may take a good gunsmith to make it feed as well as mine does.

Stop, don't do it! I rescue Springfields. I have a couple, drilled and tapped, bolts bent, and I'm trying to restore them back to original. Let us trade!

I have a half a dozen C-stocks someone cut off to "sporterize" their rifles. I bought them, since the metal was unaltered. These I have put back in the original stocks. I have one high number 03, drilled and tapped, bolt forged and an 03A3, polish blued, with a new 4 groove barrel, parkerized, and a Redfield receiver sight. They are in the rack, waiting for me to make up my mind.

Dago Red,

Thanks for the compliment. Yes Roger is applying my Monogram to the triggerguard of the 30-06 as well as doing a "corner job" on the whole action.

The 30-06 is nearing completion and the other two have a long way to go. They just recently made it to Jim.

Hello the campfire:
I have a beutiful 03 in .280 that is everything I could want. Great Stock, great stock work, and shoots 140 grain bullets at 3/4 inch all day long. This is the first .280 that I have owned and I now prefer it to my all time favorite 30-06. I have a Remingtom 03A3 that has had less than 200 rounds through it that was new in grease we bought it in 1959. And as much as I love it, if I could do the job that the unkown gunsmith did on my .280 I would rebuild it in a min.
Judge Sharpe
A slow moving, once fast draw outlaw.

All,

Thanks for the input. 54JNoll, great info on the projects and great choices of folks to do the work. What kind of custom bases? Any peep sight provision? One piece or two.

Judge Sharp, I'm thinking of a 280 for the Remington 03. How about yours? How are the sights/scope set up? Jeffe, Dago Red? PC, I like the caliber idea, but I think I'll save it for a Mauser.

Alberta Canuck, how is that .458 set up? And what config for the stock did you use?

Hacksawtom, you have a PM.

Steve

IMO the double heat treated actions are so much superior in fit, finish and slickness that I think it is wasted money and time to build custom rifles on any of the others.

Vigillinus,

I'm pretty happy with the machining and slickness of the 03 Remington, too. The 03A3 isn't quite as nice, but it's not a bad action.

But regardless, what would you do about iron sights and scope mounts.

Steve

Ski, I am a classicist and think about the only appropriate scope mount for a 1903 is an enormously expensive G&H with a long eye relief scope with the eyepiece set in front of a graceful unaltered swept back DHT style bolt handle. A Leupold will do but an old early K2.5 or Alaskan is best. And the base of the scope mount should be machined over to hide the bolts and pins. Hurrah for the 1950s !! On iron sights I get a little more practical, any ramp front with a square gold bead, Sourdough style will do, a King red reflector is very classy. For a barrel sight use something modern with both windage and elevation, the quarter ribs and folding leaves are nonsensical. A receiver sight is unnecessary, have a second sighted in scope at hand.

Surface ground and polished out, stocked in nicd Turkish with a schenable forend and egg cheek piece they are a work of art from a different time..keep them in 06 type cases like 06, 7x57, 257 Robts etc...Someday I am going to build me such a rifle in 7x57...

Jim is installing Talley Bases on the 30-096 ans the 35 Welen. The 06 required special bases to cover up some improperly filled Stith scope base holes. This mount requied the hole drilled off to the left and right obliques rather than the top. Thus it now has more of a double square bridge look to it. The Roberts is getting a lighter set of rings recommended by Jim. All are two piece. none have a provision for a peep or irons.

My two personal springfields, the 06 and the 308 norma, have no iron sights. the 06 wears two piece weaver bases and the norma I believe has two piece leupold (haven't had it out in some time).

The Taylor being built has an integral rear base and due to the original drill and tap job being done by the guys that engineered the tower of pisa the front base had to be customized for it. Front sight is custom and will accept NECG blades, the rear sight is one I had that was original pre-64 win safari sight from the 458's. has a replacement base from Wisner to be fit to the barrel contour of this rifle. I probably have some pics somewhere that my gunsmith sent to me, if I can find them I'll post.

Red

See below.

That's a mauser. and to have a cocking piece peep, which is what I am seeing on my screen, you would have to cut off the bolt knob, a feature which I think is like the signature at the end of your letter, essential. I think it says "springfield"

if you are going to go manlicher get the cool manlicher sling thingy for the forearm wish I had a picture so you could all know what I am talking about.

Red

"if you are going to go manlicher get the cool manlicher sling thingy for the forearm"

You mean like this:

That's it! Now just take that rifle and move it to my house and it'd be complete

Red

Frank M.

That is one beautiful rifle. Does it belong to you? Do you have more pictures? I know this is off topic, (not a Springfield). PM me if you like. Thanks

James

Beautiful rifles.

I've been looking at the .358 Norma, but the pressures I've seen are in the 62-63K psi range. This is Weatherby/RUM territory, and exceeds the pressures of the 7mmRemMag/.458WM/.338WM etc.

May have to rethink that. Though I imagine a number of these were built on Springfields.

Jeffe, bolt thrust here would be pretty high, wouldn't it?

Steve

Dago Red,

I'm having a Mannlicher stock made for a 7x57 Mauser. On my way out to send the blank I got from Bill Soverns off. I need to find one of those sling "swivels" loop thingies too. I think NECG might have them. I'll have to check my catalog. I also need a nosecap. Believe it or not, I think the hardest part will be figuring out which front sight assembly to use.

I like the general look of stock in that pic I posted but would like a more open grip and, of course, a curved butt plate. Don't need no stinkin' recoil pad on a 7x57!

Here is the one I wanted to post. They are both beautiful.
Frank

Frank,

That's beautiful. Who built it?

Steve

skl: Sorry for being so slow to get back to you.
I love my 280 Springfield. It is set up with Talley Bases and rings and a Zisse scope. The Talleys were more costly but give it a vintage look that I like. I have no iron sights on it at this time, but may take the scope off and go with a good peep, possably a Redfield. I hate to screw around with it too much because it shoots so great now. 139/140 grain over Reloader 22 gives .75 inch 100 yard five shot groups if I do my part. I have had to replace the mag. follower as some one buggered (can we still use that word?) up the old one and it would not fed properly. A relpacement 03 follower works great. I will try to post a picture if I can remember how to. I don't think you would go wrong with the .280. It seems tog roup beter than any of the 270s I have tried.
God luck
Judge Sharpe

I really feel the 10.75x68 would be a real unique classic round to go in a springfield, little choppingup of the action to boot, I wonder if someone has done it before ??

Judge Sharpe,

Thanks for the info. I don't see Talley rings for the Springfield, so they must be custom, right? Who made them for you? What hole spacing did you use?

PC, I've read some lukewarm stuff about the 10.75x68. Something about the bullets having to be short to make the OAL fit in a standard action, I think.

Steve

skl1:
The bases were on the rifle when I traded for it. I bought the rings and had a scope.
I do not know if the Talley bases were custom or not. Wish I could be more hepl.
Judge Sharpe

Here are some before and after pictures of the metal work on my 30-06.





This is the wood Chic graciously picked out for me.

Found some pics, sorry that some of them aren't great, but they give you a good idea of how it is shaping up. With this base setup it looks like the scope will only be 1 and 11/16" over bore.








Red

Here's the blank that goes with it. Looks better thant his, this is just the original picture from Dressel's (which I cut in between the two sides and stacked so it wouldn't be so wide).


Red

54JNoll and Dago Red

You guys are making me a bit envious.
Those are two very, very nice projects in motion. Please share with us when they are finished. I always enjoy seeing nice Springfield custom rifles whether they are from the twenties or today.

A person can't have too many of them.