PLEASE HELP! 1903 Springfield - Offered to me

[anton67]

Hi,
I was offered this 03 Springfield for $550.00.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
It was manufactured by Springfield Armory serial no. 1027376.
The rifle obviously went through a rebuild and the barrel is marked SA 6-27.
The muzzle gauges a 4 and is kind of frosty.
Not a perfect rifle by any means.
Comes with sling and oiler shown.
Unfortunately the bore is the most detracting part of the rifle.
Here is my gauge and the bullet test.
Lands and grooves not the strongest as you can see.
The stock appears to be original.
Comes with sling which appears original and oiler.

[anton67]

more photos

[anton67]

more pics

[anton67]

Pics of the bore

[Sako]

As you know it isn't going to shoot well but you can always put a new barrel on it for around two hundred and it is getting real hard to find a good 03 for less than $800.00. At $550 you should be able to get your money back out of it anytime you want to.

[Richard H Brown Jr]

Dear Anton67:

Answers: If you're gonna hang it on the wall or keep it in the gun safe: clean it and don't shoot it.
If you're gonna shoot it, try the '27 barrel at 100yrds from a iron sled, and see what the grouping looks like. If it's crap, by all means rebarrel.

ODCMP Sells Criterion '03 barrels and installs for another $175 (plus your shipping/ins both ways). See the web stie.

Criterion Barrels sells a parked '03 barrel in standard dimensions to ODMCP, Dean's Gun Restoration (sells $189.00, Install and reamed $95.00 more) , and James River Armory (no prices listed).

You could also ask in here for smiths that can supply the barrel and do all the work.

Have you pulled the action from the stock and looked at the barrel surface down by the reciver? If there are a series of deep grooves on the outside of the barrel, that's *sort of* indicative of it being a former USMC rifle. CplNorton on this forum, has been clooecting known serial nos, by way of NARA. So he might be able to tell you if it's a USMC rifle.

If you do decide to re-barrel, make sure you get the -27 barrel back, it can alwasy go back on if you decide to sell, or change it back to a display rifle.

Now all you need to get are all the cleaning bits and accessories. 8*)

R. Brown

[dave]

Pics are poor but many appear to show rust and light pitting under the blue (should be park). I doubt that is an arsenal rebuild. Spend a few hundred more and get a decent example. It is not like there is any shortage of them.

[Sunray]

"...under the blue..." Suspect it's cold bluing too. S/N 1027376 dates from 1918. Still a 'High numbered' receiver though. Frosting isn't a horrible thing for a shooter. Lots of frosted barrel shoot just fine. So shoot it first.
Trust the gauge not the cartridge. Using a cartridge is a field expedient.

[leftyo]

just because the bore is a bit crusty looking does not mean it wont shoot fairly well. not a great buy, but i dont think your getting ripped off either.

[anton67]

Thank you for all of the helpful input.
I was looking at the fact that the sling and oiler are probably worth $100 so I am really paying $450 for the rifle.
There is no rust or cold bluing. That just looks that way from the photos.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Check for vise marks. Could be a USMC. Can't say for sure.

There seems to be a heavy grouping of USMC rifles in scattered throughout the 1.02 range, all appear to be associated with the Marines in Santo Domingo in the early 1920s. Most of the rifles in that grouping were surveyed as to lost, stolen, missing or due to bore condition.

Closest I have to your number is 1027354 July 26, 1926 as a survey.

Seems like a reasonable price.

[1903fan]

Isn't it something the prices the Springfield's bring these days? I like this rifle I just miss the days when they were four hundred!

[John Beard]

Hi,
I was offered this 03 Springfield for $550.00.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
It was manufactured by Springfield Armory serial no. 1027376.
The rifle obviously went through a rebuild and the barrel is marked SA 6-27.
The muzzle gauges a 4 and is kind of frosty.
Not a perfect rifle by any means.
Comes with sling and oiler shown.
Unfortunately the bore is the most detracting part of the rifle.
Here is my gauge and the bullet test.
Lands and grooves not the strongest as you can see.
The stock appears to be original.
Comes with sling which appears original and oiler.

If you seek a shooter, keep looking. You may spend several hundred dollars putting a new barrel in the rifle while simultaneously de-valuing the rifle by several hundred dollars. Not smart! And there's no guarantee whatsoever that a new barrel will shoot a bit better. Many factors besides bore condition have a very substantial effect on accuracy.

If, on the other hand, you seek a collectible and an occasional hunting rifle, go for it. The rifle is well worth the asking price, but only if you leave it as is.

Good Luck!

J.B.

p.s.,

Brownell's sells stainless steel bore brushes. When used with hot water mixed with a few drops of dishwashing liquid, the stainless steel bore brushes are extremely effective at removing rust and corrosion.

p.p.s.,

Does the rifle have a Hatcher Hole in the left side of the receiver ring? Please advise. Thanks!

[dave]

[QUOTE=1903fan;512023]Isn't it something the prices the Springfield's bring these days? I like this rifle I just miss the days when they were four hundred![/QUOTE

Four hundred!? Hell I remember 49.95 (Brit. lend lease returns). They were supposed to return to US Gov. or destroy but instead sold them to importers. Gov. may have refused them.

[dave]

Thank you for all of the helpful input.
I was looking at the fact that the sling and oiler are probably worth $100 so I am really paying $450 for the rifle.
There is no rust or cold bluing. That just looks that way from the photos.

I have several oilers, they sell for maybe 20 bucks, IF you find someone to buy it. Slings may be worth a lot but again few people will pay the price.

[Merc]

That's the trouble with buying a relic rifle. You buy it, then you get to shoot it.

The bolt was made by Bonney Forge and finished by SA in 1942 according to Q&A on www.m1903.com.

[Mark Daiute]

Are you a serious shooter or casual? I bet that rifle will shoot groups smaller that 2" at 100 yards with cast bullets. I think 550.00 is a fair price, not a bargain but fair

[P51MUSTANG]

Did you wind up buying her? Let us know.....

[Kaliman]

Hey Anton. I sent you a PM. Thanks