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.

 

[Umwminer]

Sorry about the sorry picts .

 

[Umwminer]

 

[Umwminer]

Sorry about the lousy picts .
Ontario , to answer your question , I’ll have to take the action out of the stock .
Jack , the bolt will close over 3 rds but a 4th can be inserted deep enough that the bolt will push it , controlled , into the chamber .
Loaded rounds eject properly.
Weight 8lb , 2oz .
Bottom metal commercial mauser 98 ?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

98 Mauser bottom metal is very close to 1903 but action screws are just slightly spread further on 1903. I wondered if maybe Mauser bottom metal could be wiggled on 1903. As far as I know only NECG makes custom trapdoor bottom metal for Springfield. Sigh!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Sorry about the lousy picts .
Ontario , to answer your question , I’ll have to take the action out of the stock .
Jack , the bolt will close over 3 rds but a 4th can be inserted deep enough that the bolt will push it , controlled , into the chamber .
Loaded rounds eject properly.
Weight 8lb , 2oz .
Bottom metal commercial mauser 98 ?

Comparing your pics to my 30-06 Springfield it would appear Mr Fuller moved the ejector to the rear and trimmed some from back end of ejection port to handle longer 375 cartridges. The locking ring does not appear to be modified. Did he lap the locking lugs to activate the third safety lug?

 

['68boy]

I’m just curious— and I understand this is going to open me up to a glut of critical comments and ridicule and other assorted types of written darts hurled my way— but do the true gun nerds on this site have any outside interests or are you/they so eaten up with metal hardness and head space and case length and yada yada yada that they don’t have time or interest in the real world? Golf? Soccer? ( the USA lost to Belgium tonight FYI). The stock market? Art other than wildlife? Just curious. I leave for Africa on my 4th safari w my factory Winchester model 70 and my factory Tikka .300 win mag with factory ammo that shoots 2” at 100 yds and I’m happy as a pig in poop. What am I missing?

 

['68boy]

Forgot — model 70 is .375 h&h. That gives the . 404 and .416 and .470 and .500 fans more info for critiques. Bring it on! I’m seriously curious.