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Message started by Baltimoreed on Aug 30th, 2018 at 12:09am

Title: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Aug 30th, 2018 at 12:09am
I know it’s not a Krag but a few years I picked up a sporterized 1930 vintage 03 Springfield that was not drilled for scopemounts. It had been cut to 21 inches. Well the original build idea didn’t work out so I recently decided that I would kinda un-sporterize it. It wasn’t worth a true rebarrel but I had an ugly scant stock which had a mix of milled and stamped parts so I figured that I’d cut the stock 3 inches to match the bbl, pick up some milled parts and reshape the stock to eliminate the ugly scant grip. When my milled lower band arrives I think that i will move it a tad closed to the rcvr. I also plan on cutting finger grooves using a round router bit and my HF milling machine. It needs a bbl trim and recrown too, gotta borrow my buds crowning kit again. I will post photos soon.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Aug 30th, 2018 at 12:24pm
Started whittling on it. Got the muzzle end roughed in and the scant removed. I will work on it some today before it gets too hot in my barn/shop. Still need to slim down the forend and remove more wood from the butt. I have another upper hand guard so I might trim some off of the rear end of the handguard if I move the band location toward the rcvr. The front sight band is simply driven on. I put 8 rds through it [my light krag loads- 9.7 gr of Tin Star with a 170 gr gc lead bullet]. I’m thinking that some jb weld along with friction will hold it tight. I will shorten the bbl of course and as I'm into the lightening cut so I’ll have to fill that in too.
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CBA01D8D-8C36-40A7-986F-F190AC688A0B.jpeg ( 115 KB | 1 Download )

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Aug 31st, 2018 at 1:31am
Why don't you set it up to accept your faux Krag Bowie bayonet?

Kind of a Philippine Constabulary '03.  :D
Philippene_Scout_edit.jpg ( 228 KB | 2 Downloads )

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Aug 31st, 2018 at 2:18am
That’s an idea butlersrangers, there supposedly was a Springfield Bushmaster carbine with an 18 inch bbl but it wouldn’t take a bayonet. If nothing else when I’m done I’ll have a nice 1903 ‘school’ gun. I am thinking about getting a repro 03 bayonet and opening the muzzle ring to fit the shorter bbls slightly larger diameter. My milsurp rifle theory appears to be ‘if it’s got a bayonet mount it’s gotta have a bayonet.’

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Aug 31st, 2018 at 3:34am
My 1903A3 has a 'scant' grip stock of beautiful walnut.

I love that stock! Not its appearance, but, how it fits for position shooting. That odd 'nub' comes in handy!

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Aug 31st, 2018 at 3:24pm
The ‘c’ stocks with the pistol grip look the best to me. I did some caliper measurements and the only way that my krag bayonet would work is with machine work on the cut 03 bbl to make it smaller. But I do have my spanish mauser bayonet that is actually pretty close in the lock and bore but is a little long in the body. I trimmed the lock and opened up the bore so it goes on fine except for just barely catching the too long bbl. More tinkering tomorrow.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Sep 2nd, 2018 at 7:28pm
Update—-Still waiting on a nice checkered buttplate, better front sight and lower milled band to arrive. An unissued windage screw assembly came the other day, screwed right in. Nice and tight with a little bit of spring. Got a repro Kerr sling coming too. Loaded up some of my Krag formula loads in .30-06 LC67 brass— 9.7 gr Tin Star with a pointed 170 gr gc .310 cast bullet that I cast. I can hit my 10 inch 60 yard gong offhand with no problem. And with a just drove on wiggly front sight. I’ll sight it in on paper when I get the sights 100%. When those milled parts arrive I’ll work on the stock some more. Don’t want to remove too much wood. I’m thinking that the milled parts are thicker than the stamped parts. Film at eleven.

Tried some 154 gr lead fp a few minutes ago, rifle likes them too with no last rd pop out.

Update 9-11–- The milled buttplate is only a few thousands thicker. Moved the lower band to the rear about an inch and reshaped the high hump handguard to blend it into the lower band step. Now I’ve got to move the band spring too. Still have more wood to remove to make the stock look correct with the new band locations. Got the Kerr sling but I’ve got to recut the rear sling swivel inlet as I removed a lot of wood on the bottom of the stock getting rid of the scant. Got another front sight base [crosspin in the rear] which was a lot tighter on my bbl, thinking that friction and a crosspin should hold it on. With the tighter base it doesn’t drive on the bbl as far so I don’t think the bbl needs cutting just a crowning.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by FredC on Sep 3rd, 2018 at 12:57pm
" there supposedly was a Springfield Bushmaster carbine with an 18 inch bbl but it wouldn’t take a bayonet"

The Bushmaster's carbine was a real thing, maybe not officially sanctioned by an arsenal, but they did exist. My father was in the 158th Regimental Combat Team (Bushmasters), part of the Arizona national guard mobilized at the start of the war. He told me about the shortened Springfields and using them in patrols in the dense Panama jungles. Full length rifles were impossible to carry over the shoulder before they were cutoff. In his describing them, they were done locally, maybe in the canal zone machine/maintenance shops. Later research said they were crudely done locally (in the canal zone) and later destroyed. The article said they were used only in training, my father said patrols actively guarding the canal used them.
Because almost all were destroyed and the local work was crudely done it is hard to tell if any still exist, I guess crudely done is easily copied today.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Oct 3rd, 2018 at 2:12am
Moving along with it. Trying to set it up in my mini mill to cut the gripping grooves next and then staining with Birchwood-Casey red walnut. Got the muzzle crowned nice, it was way off. Also replaced the thick trigger with one of the slender early krag style triggers and opened the bow up some more. Reblued it too.

Update— milled my grasping grooves, now I’m working on the exposed lightening cut. Hopefully will stain over the weekend.
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Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Oct 3rd, 2018 at 3:53am
Cute Bantam '03! - "Tanker Model"

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Suredan on Oct 3rd, 2018 at 2:35pm
Looks sharp. Nice job!

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by carbon outlaw on Oct 5th, 2018 at 9:06pm
Nice .. Good Job !!!!

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Oct 8th, 2018 at 5:24pm
Started applying tru oil over my stain. The handguard cracked at the repair so I used another that I had. In order to use the already shortened high hump end i cut the damaged and replacement handguard with the seam under the lower band. You can see where I epoxied a curved piece of brass on the high hump end and the small piece holds it while the lower band holds everything tight to the stock.
00E5744F-DBCD-421A-9068-82E2D9057029.jpeg ( 176 KB | 1 Download )

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Oct 8th, 2018 at 6:06pm
Nice workmanship.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by boomer on Oct 11th, 2018 at 1:06pm
That is a nice looking piece you're making!

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Oct 11th, 2018 at 4:45pm
Other than some rebluing of stuff due to handling I think I’m done. I’ve had a he!! Of a time getting a photo to load.
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Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Baltimoreed on Apr 28th, 2019 at 8:44pm
We shot a BAM match [and cas match] yesterday at my cas club. ECSASS near Manteo, NC. I shot my unsporterized ‘03, an Astra 600, a Colt New Service in 38 spcl and a Norinco 1897 trench. I dressed in my mexican peasant outfit. Didn’t do too well as my ‘97 lost a cartridge stop screw and didn’t want to run worth a darn. Even had a double feed. I did do well with my ‘03 and ran it fast mad minute style with my ring finger pulling the trigger and not letting go of the bolt handle. We had a gorgeous day and a good time.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Apr 28th, 2019 at 9:51pm
A 1903 Springfield, a Guernica, Spain, Astra 600 in 9mm Parabellum, a Hartford made New Service Colt in .38 S&W Special, a North China Industries model 1897 'Winchester' shotgun and you in Mexican Peon Garb ..... isn't diversity wonderful!
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Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by psteinmayer on Apr 29th, 2019 at 1:18am
Suddenly...  I REALLY want a taco! 

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Dick Hosmer on Apr 29th, 2019 at 1:43pm
A pink one?

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Dick Hosmer on Apr 30th, 2019 at 3:53pm
Out of line, I guess.

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by butlersrangers on Apr 30th, 2019 at 6:40pm
At least pre-Inline!
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Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by Dick Hosmer on Apr 30th, 2019 at 8:32pm
Now I get it!  ::) ::) ::)

Title: Re: 1903 Springfield un-sporterizing project
Post by psteinmayer on Apr 30th, 2019 at 9:57pm
LOL Dick!

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