We all seem to talk a lot about sporterizing mausers, and I have a lot more mausers than springfields myself. Why though, don't we talk more about the 1903's? Is there something that sets them on a lower rung than the mausers for sporterizing? I know that it is cheaper as far as what I have paid, to have the mausers rails modified and the guns rechambered.

Just curious cause I sure do like the look of the 03's and they are getting a bit more difficult to find in semi-sporter configurations or just actions. I know a guy who deals in guns that said he has one fully sporterized with all bells and whistles that he'll let me have for 275. (I don't know his idea of bells and whistles, to me it would be drilled and tapped, bolt reshaped, low profile safety, new trigger, polished and blued). I am thinking it would make a great new rifle for me, like a .358 Norma to match my 308norma on a springfield. :-)

Red

I have a couple 1903 and a3' sporters.. .and I MUCH prefer them.... but that's just texas attitiude.

358 winnie (will be redone to 358 norma or 350 rigby)
257 roberts

300 winnie

30-06

257xwsm (jls)

jeffe

Dago Red.....

You've actually broached two different subjects as I see it.

1. The desirability of making a Springfield custom verses a Mauser custom.....

2. The desirability of making a 1903-A3 custom verses either a 1903 Springfield or a Mauser

To the extent that there are more and less desirable Mausers......from both an aesthetic and safety standpoint.....the same condition exists for Springfields. The high number double heat treated and nickel steel Springfields are the only candidates for customization.

From a pure aesthetic issue, the Mausers are arguably a "prettier" action. And I say this as an avid fan of the Springfield.

The front receiver ring on a Springfield will retain the peculiar "hump" on the right side......the Mauser can be contoured to a pleasing shape.

The safety lug on a Springfield is external, and requires a higher rear bridge.......The Mauser's is internal, it's recess in the action bottom.

The bolt cutoff/stop on a Springfield in original guise is an affair that hardly follows a pleasing line at the rear of the action. The Mauser's is also a protrusion, but better appearing and lends itself to modification and "dress-up" better.

Bolt handles, safeties, and triggers receive almost the same modifications.......although smiths will almost universally tell you it is easier to machine for a 2-position mod on a Mauser shroud than on a Springfield. After market 3-position safeties are available for both.

With the exception of the 1909-type Mauser hinged floorplate bottom metal, I think the 1903 Springfield is a better looking trigger guard. That's a matter of taste, and still requires a modification for hinging and release.

The 03-A3 is another animal. They have no where near the fine finish of the 1903. In fact they can be VERY crude. Particularly bolts and action surfaces. They also have stamped trigger guards and followers. Common replacements for A3's are bolts, bottom metal, and followers from 1903's.

The bolt cutoff/stop arrangement is like that of the 1903, but doesn't have the "scallop" machined on it's surface. In some respects, preferable to the 1903.....a matter of taste I guess.

The rear tang of an A3 is a flat affair rather than the pleasing curve of the 1903. As the rear tang of the action is rather wide, this flat area takes on a rather "cheap" look in my estimation. A common practice is to slim down the whole affair to remove that look. However, you are still left with a tang that can give the impression of "diving away" from the rear of the bolt.........as the line that starts the top of the grip is defined by that tang shape.

Good Springfield actions are arguably more difficult to obtain than good Mausers. They also arguably require more expense to modify. They certainly aren't as popular as any of the current Mauser customs.........military basis or commercial versions.

As to the gun you have available to you.....if it is a 1903, and the mods are well done, it's likely worth the asking price. If it's an A3, my assessment would be $275 is a bit high. Others will likely weigh in with more and different opinions.

GV

I bought a sporterized Smith corona 03a3 a couple years ago and I've been in the process of fixing it up. It is eventually going to get a 35 whelen barrel, some checkering and about a few more coats of finish. I think they make a very classic looking hunting rifle.
Whoever did the trigger did a great job. It breaks as clean as the timneys I have on other rifles.

Good shooting, Weagle

[ 04-23-2003, 00:24: Message edited by: weagle ]

GrandView,

Great evaluation. I will have to crack the safe tonight and compare rifles, I believe that I have one in there, my stepfather's Norma, that is a 1903. It has a cutout on the left side of the action, right about middle of the bolt opening, would that be one way to tell if it is a 1903 versus A3?

I really need to find a book with a good exploded view of an action and the different parts labeled. I follow good for the most part, but could still use it for reference.

thanks again for the great breakdown.

Red