Hi James: If I remember it's a Redfield mount and rings set-up. Kind of old school but that's how it was done back then I suppose. Rotary dovetail on the front and the rear is to adjust the windage by the opposing screws. But good luck trying to find one of them critters now. I would have to say I put this rifle together some 30+ years ago when stuff for 03's was easy to find.
I have a 1903 A3 Smith Corona. It has the same date barrel as yours. I bought it back in 1975 for about $199.00 as a handed pick one from some military surplus advertised in a magazine. I shot it for a while and then in the mid 1980s put it away in the closet and just in the last six months got it out and refinished the stock and mounted a scope on it and started shooting it again. I have a K-31 Swiss which I alternate with this one at the range. Do my own loading and have found it to be a fun rifle to shoot again. I generally use 165 grain Hornady BTSP and about 56 or 57 grains of IMR 4350.
Hi cbm: Very nice. I'll admit I have a special fondness of those old wooden stocked turn-bolt mil-spec rifles. Which one do you think is more accurate?
@@lencac7952 Enjoyed your efforts on your rifle and video. My son and I collect USGI equipment and as correct firearms as possible with our budget. Bought a Gibbs 1903A4 because it filled a niche and was considerably cheaper than an original. I had no idea when I bought it how much I’d actually enjoy this rifle! With the iron sights removed, and the slender minimal nature of the M73 scope, the rifle really feels, and points, like my dad’s old pre 64 model 70. Think I’m going to carry this come moose and caribou season here in Alaska this fall! Beautiful backdrop in your video, and kinda reminded me of a range outside Boise Idaho when I lived there 20 some years ago.
Hey Michael: You know years ago I almost bought the Gibbs 1903A4......... almost. Keep in mind I had a unissued 1903A1 I found at a gunshow years before that. That was in the later 70's and I paid $600 for it. Which was not a cheap rifle back then. It was unissued and was new. But it had a unique set of marks on it. It had 3 stake marks under the serial number. IMHO I believe the 1903A1's were the finest of all the 1903 models. With the possible exception of the hand built NM 1903's. Anyway, one day I saw an ad in the back of one of the gun magazines for a guy who would install the sight mounts for the USMC M1941 sniper rifle with the Unertl scope. So I sent him the barreled receiver. When he got it he was stunned. He stated that back in the Korean war years he was an armorer for the Navy and he was tasked with rebuilding the M1941 rifles that were in storage from WWII. He would rebuild the old M1941's and install a 10X Unertl scope as opposed to the 8X scopes that were put on them in WWII. He stated that the 3 stake marks on my receiver were to designate these as hand built 1903A1's and were intended for use as M1941 rifles but would needed to be upgraded to make them M1941 rifles. He said 1000 of these were built and put into storage in the event that the Marines needed more of these. So when he got mine he was surprised. Said he had never upgraded one of those as there was no need but he was aware they existed. He installed the Unertl scope mounts and sent it back. Instead of getting the Gibbs I decided to build this. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VyqBzHTReok.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BCHaUXdlLE4.html
@@lencac7952 Wow! That’s some old rifle. I started with an M1 Garand back in the late 80’s because I couldn’t afford an M1A to shoot in DCM matches. My son and I now have all the manufactures of the M1’s, and a pretty nice 1903 Springfield from 1923 (I believe they were all “target rifles” during the inter war period) with scant C stock, a 1942 03A3 from Remington (two groove barrel), and a Winchester made 1917 with the worst looking barrel of the bunch, but it cleaned up and shoots .311 diameter bullets as well as the rest. The Garands have really gone up in price like everything. My first one was $325. The ones we have bought in the last few years are all 2k a piece🤷♂️. I had an old school teacher who had been the Service Wide Team Coach for the USMC Rifle and Pistol team through the 70’s. CWO4 Doyle Gracey encouraged me to do service rifle competition after I got out of the Marines in 1994. My uncle and grandpa had been WWII vets, so I’d grown up on all their stories, so I guess its part of the reason we’ve invested in these old rifles so heavily! Wish I could attach photos (knew how), and I’d send you a photo of our collection. I also use to work at the oldest gunstore in Boise Idaho, Shapel’s. Old man Shapel was also a WWII Vet-always appreciated the Garands and 1903’s that we’d get in! Thanks for your link. Take Care Sir, and have a Blessed Day!
Nice rifle, I have a Remington 1903A3 that's in really great shape metal wise, some person took the military stock off of it and put a bishop stock on it. However, as I said, the metal wasn't refinished or the action drilled and tapped for some hunting scope mount, It has a floorplate, Trigger as original issue. all the metal looks like 98%.. I always wanted to put it back to military configuration however it has been a back burner project I haven't got off the launchpad. I need to find a stock and hardware for it. anyway. Off subject, what was you load for the 75x55 using IMR-4320? I shot that load years back and lost that load data. Thanks. Peace out - Dave
Hi Dave: Sounds like you got work to do. I don't know how available that stuff is now. Back when I built this I could get pretty much anything I needed from Numrich. I like '03's. I've had every type there was. Not the best at anything but good at everything. I tell you what, my load was not the most stout, 168 gr. going I figure about 2850. Nothing special, but it was still hitting me pretty hard it seemed. Can you imagine thousands of guys facing each other, vs the beast of a cartridge 8x57J.........shooting at each other. Is that shit for real?
Hi Mega: I'll bet it was back in the late 90's at a local gunshow a guy had one day this Smith Corona stamped 10-43, flaming bomb logo, barreled Smith Corona receiver, NEW! Still in the white. No bolt, nothing. Fortunately I brought tools and the headspace checked perfect. How does that survive for 50 years like that. Weird. Anyway that's what I started with.
@@lencac7952 , Good for you.. ya never know what ya can find.. Although I think them days are over but again ya never know.... Btw your making great videos lately.. be well and Keep America Great 👍.
