1903 springfield

[Altitude sickness]

Yes pins when I bought it. Had cross bolts added locally.

 

[Jared640]

He's made his choice and the gun is done already. 375 H&H on Springfield action. Looking forward to photos.

I got the shipping confirmation a little while ago. I should have it before the week is over

 

[Jared640]

I have a video of the gunsmith shooting it but it will now load to this site. I'll post pictures when I have it in my possession

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have a video of the gunsmith shooting it but it will now load to this site. I'll post pictures when I have it in my possession

All you can do is post the video to YouTube and then put a link to it here. I did it only once to prove to a certain snobby skeptic on here that my "clunky homemade" Mauser 404 did cycle perfectly.

Did the gunsmith set it up for scope? Does the video show him cycling it?

I gotta say, that was very fast turnaround on completing the project. Looking forward to your final report when you have it in hand.

 

[Jared640]

All you can do is post the video to YouTube and then put a link to it here. I did it only once to prove to a certain snobby skeptic on here that my "clunky homemade" Mauser 404 did cycle perfectly.

Did the gunsmith set it up for scope? Does the video show him cycling it?

I gotta say, that was very fast turnaround on completing the project. Looking forward to your final report when you have it in hand.

There is no scope on the rifle but it is set up for one. Yes sir it shows him shooting it. In the video he shoots it 4 consecutive times. It cycled perfect

 

[Ontario Hunter]

There is no scope on the rifle but it is set up for one. Yes sir it shows him shooting it. In the video he shoots it 4 consecutive times. It cycled perfect

Great. Okay, do you know what scope safety he went with?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If you run out of elevation on your scope, you now know what to do. File some metal off the top of the receiver rear sight dovetail for the military peep. Springfield scope bases are anchored to that dovetail bridge. I suspect manufacturers during the war were not very particular about milling that dovetail (rough machining seems to confirm). Didn't need to be because the sight was adjustable and could remedy any inconsistency.

 

[Umwminer]

Just came across this post and thought I might add to the conversation.
I have a 1903 Springfield that was converted to 375H&H . No provenance, but the seller told me that the original work was done by Bill Fuller , gunsmith for Johnson’s Kenai Rifles , ( Harold Johnson ) Cooper Landing AK in the 1950’s .
It has since been completely refurbished ( re stocked , reblued , etc. ) It’s nice and light , feeds and functions perfectly and a great shooter .
Ive never killed anything bigger than Elk with it ( Nosler 260gr Accubond ) but I cant say that it kills them any harder than my 35Whelen AI ( 250gr Speer spitzer ) out to 600 yds .

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Just came across this post and thought I might add to the conversation.
I have a 1903 Springfield that was converted to 375H&H . No provenance, but the seller told me that the original work was done by Bill Fuller , gunsmith for Johnson’s Kenai Rifles , ( Harold Johnson ) Cooper Landing AK in the 1950’s .
It has since been completely refurbished ( re stocked , reblued , etc. ) It’s nice and light , feeds and functions perfectly and a great shooter .
Ive never killed anything bigger than Elk with it ( Nosler 260gr Accubond ) but I cant say that it kills them any harder than my 35Whelen AI ( 250gr Speer spitzer ) out to 600 yds .

Can you post an image? I'd like to see how Mr Fuller modified the receiver to handle the longer length 375 rounds. 1903 action is truly one of the hidden treasures among project donor actions. Mine cycles so smoothly it almost seems to open and close itself. The 1903's clunky bolt release system is doubtless a deterrent. Mauser and 1917 bolt releases are much more elegant.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Just came across this post and thought I might add to the conversation.
I have a 1903 Springfield that was converted to 375H&H . No provenance, but the seller told me that the original work was done by Bill Fuller , gunsmith for Johnson’s Kenai Rifles , ( Harold Johnson ) Cooper Landing AK in the 1950’s .
It has since been completely refurbished ( re stocked , reblued , etc. ) It’s nice and light , feeds and functions perfectly and a great shooter .
Ive never killed anything bigger than Elk with it ( Nosler 260gr Accubond ) but I cant say that it kills them any harder than my 35Whelen AI ( 250gr Speer spitzer ) out to 600 yds .

I’m sure the group here would love to see several pics of your rifle. What is the magazine capacity?

 

[dlmac]

I have a 1903 that was converted to a 375/338 or 375 Taylor. It is pleasant to shoot and easy to reload. No it is not a 375 H&H.

 

[jruby]

I have two 1903 sporters. One is in 257 roberts the other is in 6.5x55. I would have one in 30-06 except i dint need 5 30-06 rifles. 1903 springfields make slick sporters when done up right.

 

[Jack Stevens]

The go-to conversion on 1903s in the early decades of the 20th century was to the old wildcat cartridge now called the .35 Whelen.

It was also, back then, called the Poor Man's Magnum. For the price of only a new barrel - and really nothing more beyond paying a competent local 'smtih to install it - a man of average means could have a serious stopping rifle for large and dangerous game, like Moose, Brown bears and Grizzly bears.

Of course, being a reloader back then was a given.