1903 NRA Springfield Sporter...or Nationa Match rifle

[Calfed]

A few weeks ago I won a Springfield Sporter style rifle at an auction. I got it pretty cheap and was encouraged by the fact that it is listed on the Springfield Research Service data base...but as a NM model. It is strange, however, because dozens of rifles before this one and dozens after, all consecutive serials, are listed as Sporters.

I'm guessing that the data base is off or that a buyer converted a NM model to a sporter configuration.

Description advised a serial number of 1266801 and a "Star Crown".



http://i.imgur.com/9eQEjvn.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/PFHLj0T.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/2jOq1FC.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/lHogqWc.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/aT3ceKF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7SP6lWo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8w1pFOy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/B7MxJ0A.jpg

[m1903rifle]

If the front of the receiver ring is rounded instead of sharp, and the rear of the barrel does not have the rear sight fixed base pin detent, it is and was built as a NRA Sporter.

[Chaz]

41396

[Ed Byrns]

SA# 1266801 was sold as a NM rifle thru the DCM program.
Respectfully submitted
Ed Byrns

[Calfed]

If the front of the receiver ring is rounded instead of sharp, and the rear of the barrel does not have the rear sight fixed base pin detent, it is and was built as a NRA Sporter.

When the rifle arrived at my FFL, I got a chance to give it a quick once over before it went into the safe for the obligatory 10 day "cooling off" period.

I could not find any indexing groove on the barrel for a normal 1903 rear sight and the barrel seemed to be slightly different in profile to my 1903 military profile barrels. It does have the star gauge on the crown.

Bore is shiny and sharp and gauges about a "0" on the CMP muzzle gauge. Barrel is dated 5-25

Bluing is in very good condition, except a bit faded on the floor plate.

There is a circle P cartouche on the bottom of the pistol grip, and the stock appears to be in good shape and solid.

The striker and cocking piece of the bolt is bright blue. The bolt body is parkerized, marked "J 5" on the safety lug and has a punch mark on the underside on the bolt handle at the root.
I grabbed a few pictures...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2017/06/kKVW4h7jpg2-1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vF6lTg3.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/BCqAiex.jpg?1
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2017/06/qcWdYk8jpg1-1.jpg

[Calfed]

41396

More pics! More pics!

[Calfed]

SA# 1266801 was sold as a NM rifle thru the DCM program.
Respectfully submitted
Ed Byrns

I'm forced to conclude that someone bought a National Match rifle and converted it to Springfield sporter configuration.

It should be a good shooter and I didn't pay too much for it.

[m1903rifle]

Does the front of the receiver ring have a slight radius?

[Calfed]

I do not think so, but I will be taking it out of the stock soon to check for any numbers on the underside of the barrel.

Would the radiusing be obvious?

[Calfed]

Does the front of the receiver ring have a slight radius?


I've looked it over more closely...it is possible the upper half of the receiver ring has been radiused.

Here are a few more pics.

http://i.imgur.com/fn42qLn.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/MYnmLqG.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/jv27HkC.jpg?1

The reason that I allow that it might have a radiused receiver ring is this...here are a few pics of a documented Sporter's receiver ring...

http://i.imgur.com/8Vxm5II.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/FciRetq.jpg?1

Here is my receiver ring...

http://i.imgur.com/7rAMZsp.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/TWzEwct.jpg?1

Seems similar to me. what do you think?

[Chaz]

More pics! More pics!

I've never taken pix of this NRA sporter (sn 1344164) but attached here are the ones from Scott duff from whom I purchased the rifle.41397413984139941400

[Calfed]

Thanks, Chaz. that is a sweet looking rifle.

What is stamped on the bolt handle, there at the root?

Thanks

[Calfed]

Got a chance to shoot the "sporter" today.

I haven't worked up a load for the rifle, but did have half a box (well, 9 rounds) left of some Hunting Shack 175 gr 30.06 ammo. I fired a 5 round group and my son finished off the other 4 rounds

@ 100 yards

http://i.imgur.com/7Bm1iW0.jpg?1

[m1903rifle]

It is a NRA Sporter. The records are wrong.

[Herschel]

I agree with m1903rifle. The records are wrong.

[Roadkingtrax]

Have you ordered the SRS DCM sales document? The rifle speaks for itself, but many were converted from the a-typical National Match after purchase.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Order the SRS reciept.

It would be a poor decision to call the records incorrect without actually having the document to reference.

[Calfed]

Thanks, guys. I've got an order in for the SRS paperwork.

I took the stock off the sporter to get the star gauge number and it became very clear that the top of the leading edge of the receiver ring has been radiused.

It is very hard to get photos to illustrate it, but here goes...

http://i.imgur.com/RHDeaFy.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/BwCZEbk.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/g7O0Coq.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/1pynaqE.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/bD7mzNj.jpg?1

[Johnny P]

Agree with others that it is a Sporter with incorrect record. The Sporters were rust blued which seems to be correct, and Sporter barrel is slightly heavier contour than military barrel, especially in the area of the front band.

Phosphate finished bolt is incorrect.

[Calfed]

You make some good points and I agree with you Johnny.

I'm going to do something with the bolt.

[Dick Hosmer]

I've never had my Sporter (1344166, 6-30) out of the wood, but am amazed that it would only be the top of the receiver which was radiused. Are you sure that is right? Much harder to do just the top, whereas a couple of seconds in a lathe would do a perfect job all around. Also, that looks more like a chamfer or bevel. Mine is actually a smooth radius.

[Johnny P]

You know what they say about a picture, and it is this way on both sides. This one letters as a Sporter.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2n8r1b6.jpg

[Calfed]

John Beard, over on the CMP forums, was able to trace the star gauge code on the barrel and confirm that this is an authentic NRA Sporter.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?p=1617258#post1617258

[Johnny P]

Whether the barrel was original to the receiver or not it would have a star gage record number. I have a new (1938) replacement Sporter barrel with the star gage record number and card. The Sporter barrel is easily recognized by it's slightly heavier contour.

[Calfed]

Whether the barrel was original to the receiver or not it would have a star gage record number. I have a new (1938) replacement Sporter barrel with the star gage record number and card. The Sporter barrel is easily recognized by it's slightly heavier contour.

Apparently when the star gauge barrel was mounted by the armory to a receiver, the serial number of the receiver and the type of rifle (NM, Sporter,etc) was noted on the star gauge record card. What information, other then the barrel internal measurements, are noted on the card for your replacement barrel?

[Johnny P]

Apparently when the star gauge barrel was mounted by the armory to a receiver, the serial number of the receiver and the type of rifle (NM, Sporter,etc) was noted on the star gauge record card. What information, other then the barrel internal measurements, are noted on the card for your replacement barrel?

I have posted this previously, but for those that haven't seen it. Have the shipping tube with the Springfield Armory marked tape.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2sb7o88.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/2nhm6bl.jpg

[Calfed]

Thanks, Johnny