My 03 Sporter

Hardcase · 04-02-2009, 14:48

My dad gave me his old hunting rifle a few years ago and it's a pretty doggone fun shooter. I think that he picked it up in the early 60s, well after it had been "sporterized". As a kid, I remember his annual deer hunting trips every fall and this weapon brought home the venison every year.

Ralph the cat is the special guest star.

The last trip was in 1969 when dad "forgot" that a 1903 has a five round magazine. That sixth shot at a wounded, charging deer didn't go, but no problem - Springfield made an awfully stout club and our local gunsmith did a really nice repair.

The receiver and barrel are a 1920-vintage M1903 Mk I, with the bolt turned down to clear the scope. Since the receiver was drilled and tapped for a scope, that pretty much ruined any collector value, but it doesn't do a darned thing to the fun value - there's nothing better than heading out to the range and chuckling at the guys with their spendy, fancy-pants hunting rifles when this 90 year old, government issue gun shoots every bit as accurately as their sparkly new iron. And the special forces wannabes about jump out of their shorts at the report of a .30-06 round.

It's a gun...it's a club...it's two for one!

Leadpoison · 04-06-2009, 22:30

yes, many cringe at the thought of sporterized military rifles but these were a way of life in the postwar era. "dime a dozen" surplus rifles that made great hunting rifles with a little customization. i just mounted the scope on my 17 eddystone enfield & can't wait to get it to the range. it's been rebarreled & chambered for the 30-06 ackley improved round. to date, with the purchase of the rifle, scope & rings, i have $220 invested. can't beat the price!!

Hardcase · 04-07-2009, 07:44

Done right, those sporterized military rifles have a beauty all their own. Your Enfield looks great! And you're definitely right on the price!

SgtWaggoner · 06-28-2009, 15:02

I have sporterized my Springfield 03 A3 Remington to a Ramline Synthetic Stock. The wood stock was beaten to hell, but now, man, I get alot of looks at the range, people think it's either a Remington 700 or that type of rifle...

And there is no better shooter than the 03, man, it's just plain accurate, steel sites I can plink targets 400 meters away, NO PROBLEM, much like my 91/30 Nagant, but much smoother, the bolt for the 03 or in my case the 03 A3, is a gift from God...oh yeah, and the Mauser. But I have a Mauser 98K too, but My 03A3, is in my opinion, the best shooter of all of my Military WWI/WWII rifles I own, easy...
I also have an Enfield SMLE Mk 3, Mauser 98K, 91/30 Mosin Nagant...

Love them all...

alienbogey · 11-01-2009, 23:08

I love my sporterized Rock Island 1903. I bought it when it was all my newly-married butt could afford, from my father-in-law for $180 in 4 monthly payments of $45, which was all the available cash flow at the time.

25 years later it has lots of scratches and dings, the biggest being from my desert bighorn hunt when I dropped it while busy falling down a shale slope. Scope stayed zero'd and I got the ram on the 9th day of the hunt.

A few years ago I treated it to a new Leupold and it is still an absolute tack-driver.

Whenever I take it out it attracts attention. Nobody cares to look at everyone's generic Remchesters, but show up with a full mannlicher-stocked, 1903 Springfield and people gather round.

I'm planning on buying my son a rifle for his 21st birthday, and I've been asking what I hope are subtle question about what kind he might want - he wants a sporterized 1903 Springfield!

P.S. My over/under has a stock repair exactly like that, caused by - guess what - dropping it while busy falling down a shale slope.

Joe Garibaldi · 11-03-2009, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by alienbogey

25 years later it has lots of scratches and dings, the biggest being from my desert bighorn hunt when I dropped it while busy falling down a shale slope. Scope stayed zero'd and I got the ram on the 9th day of the hunt.

I don't guess anyone's making sporterized 03's any more, but someone is making mounts, rings, and scopes for them. As far as I'm concerned, your story is better than any advertising money could buy. What types were they?

alienbogey · 11-04-2009, 10:26

The scope was a fixed 4X 'Aloma' if I remember correctly, I've never heard of that brand before or since. The mounts and rings - no idea.

When I bought the new Leupold a few years ago the local shop had no problems mounting it.

Another thing that tickles me about my Springfield - very early Springfields had heat treatment problems and may be unsafe to shoot. The serial numbers are well known - for Rock Island produced 1903's, the serial number must be 285,506 or above. Mine is 285,5xy - and it's above the cutoff.

04-02-2009, 14:48	#1
Hardcase Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 14	My 03 Sporter My dad gave me his old hunting rifle a few years ago and it's a pretty doggone fun shooter. I think that he picked it up in the early 60s, well after it had been "sporterized". As a kid, I remember his annual deer hunting trips every fall and this weapon brought home the venison every year. Ralph the cat is the special guest star. The last trip was in 1969 when dad "forgot" that a 1903 has a five round magazine. That sixth shot at a wounded, charging deer didn't go, but no problem - Springfield made an awfully stout club and our local gunsmith did a really nice repair. The receiver and barrel are a 1920-vintage M1903 Mk I, with the bolt turned down to clear the scope. Since the receiver was drilled and tapped for a scope, that pretty much ruined any collector value, but it doesn't do a darned thing to the fun value - there's nothing better than heading out to the range and chuckling at the guys with their spendy, fancy-pants hunting rifles when this 90 year old, government issue gun shoots every bit as accurately as their sparkly new iron. And the special forces wannabes about jump out of their shorts at the report of a .30-06 round. It's a gun...it's a club...it's two for one!

04-06-2009, 22:30	#2
Leadpoison Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: old hickory, tn Posts: 109	yes, many cringe at the thought of sporterized military rifles but these were a way of life in the postwar era. "dime a dozen" surplus rifles that made great hunting rifles with a little customization. i just mounted the scope on my 17 eddystone enfield & can't wait to get it to the range. it's been rebarreled & chambered for the 30-06 ackley improved round. to date, with the purchase of the rifle, scope & rings, i have $220 invested. can't beat the price!! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Q: What's the difference between a large pizza and the typical Obama backer? A: The pizza can feed a family of four. The liberals have asked us to give Obama time. 25 to life seems appropriate!!

11-01-2009, 23:08	#5
alienbogey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Western Washington Posts: 9	I love my sporterized Rock Island 1903. I bought it when it was all my newly-married butt could afford, from my father-in-law for $180 in 4 monthly payments of $45, which was all the available cash flow at the time. 25 years later it has lots of scratches and dings, the biggest being from my desert bighorn hunt when I dropped it while busy falling down a shale slope. Scope stayed zero'd and I got the ram on the 9th day of the hunt. A few years ago I treated it to a new Leupold and it is still an absolute tack-driver. Whenever I take it out it attracts attention. Nobody cares to look at everyone's generic Remchesters, but show up with a full mannlicher-stocked, 1903 Springfield and people gather round. I'm planning on buying my son a rifle for his 21st birthday, and I've been asking what I hope are subtle question about what kind he might want - he wants a sporterized 1903 Springfield! P.S. My over/under has a stock repair exactly like that, caused by - guess what - dropping it while busy falling down a shale slope. Last edited by alienbogey; 11-01-2009 at 23:10. Reason: p.s.

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04-07-2009, 07:44	#3
Hardcase Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 14	Done right, those sporterized military rifles have a beauty all their own. Your Enfield looks great! And you're definitely right on the price!

06-28-2009, 15:02	#4
SgtWaggoner Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 85	I have sporterized my Springfield 03 A3 Remington to a Ramline Synthetic Stock. The wood stock was beaten to hell, but now, man, I get alot of looks at the range, people think it's either a Remington 700 or that type of rifle... And there is no better shooter than the 03, man, it's just plain accurate, steel sites I can plink targets 400 meters away, NO PROBLEM, much like my 91/30 Nagant, but much smoother, the bolt for the 03 or in my case the 03 A3, is a gift from God...oh yeah, and the Mauser. But I have a Mauser 98K too, but My 03A3, is in my opinion, the best shooter of all of my Military WWI/WWII rifles I own, easy... I also have an Enfield SMLE Mk 3, Mauser 98K, 91/30 Mosin Nagant... Love them all...

11-04-2009, 10:26	#7
alienbogey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Western Washington Posts: 9	The scope was a fixed 4X 'Aloma' if I remember correctly, I've never heard of that brand before or since. The mounts and rings - no idea. When I bought the new Leupold a few years ago the local shop had no problems mounting it. Another thing that tickles me about my Springfield - very early Springfields had heat treatment problems and may be unsafe to shoot. The serial numbers are well known - for Rock Island produced 1903's, the serial number must be 285,506 or above. Mine is 285,5xy - and it's above the cutoff.