new/old springfield

[hillbilly]

fellas, I just purchased a model 03 springfield. the stock has been cut down sporter style, and there are no sights and it isn't drilled or tapped for mounts. so i plan to silver solder on a set of iron sights and basically use it as a truck\tractor gun. just a few questions is it safe to fire new factory 30-06 ammo through? and i would like to handload for it but will keep loads middle of the pack so to speak not hot but also not reduced (why would anyone want reduced loads anyway.) i'm looking for a velocity of 2500fps with 150gr bullets. Another idea thats just occurred to me is to purchase one of the 30-06 to 308 adapters that were made to convert the garand from 30-06 to 7.62 NATO. that way i can finally use the piles of surplus 7.62 NATO ammo i have here. Basically i'm looking to build a plinker that'll whack rocks, stumps, the odd coyote and gophers, but not to worry about it getting bounced around in the back of my truck or in the tractor. or strapped to the handle bars of my bike. I paided $60CAN for it so i'm not to concerned.

[John Traveler]

Hillbilly,

If you have a low-number Springfield M1903, it would NOT be a good idea to handload hot loads for it.  Low is defined as s/n below 900,000, I believe.  Low-numbered Rock Island M1903 rifles were affected too.

For the same reason, I would not use a 7.62 NATO chamber adaptor bushing to fire .308 Winchester rounds in that old Springfield.  Chamber pressure is too high when using .308 Win or 7.62 NATO ammo.

I have extensively fired M1 rifles using the .308 Winchester adaptor bushings, and found them to be unsatisfatory.  Most will eventually extract with a fired case and be lost.  Also, the .308 Win/7.62 NATO case is fatter at the shoulder than the corresponding point in the .30-06 chamber, and will give you difficult chambering.  In the M1 rifles, we had to run in a .308 Win chamber reamer to make it work well.

The chamber adpator may or may not work for you in a  bolt-action rifle.  I can not recommend it.

HTH
John

[savageT]

I paided $60CAN for it so i'm not to concerned.
_________________
hillbilly

Hey hillbilly,
Man, if I owned an 03A3 with only $60 in it I sure would be looking into finding some original milstock and sights to restore it!  The action alone is worth 3 times that amount.  Such a shame!  RESTORE.

Jim

[1911crazy]

I would restore it also I haven't seen an '03 cheaper than $500 most are around $750 and higher I would pickup a $59 M38 mosin from Aim or an yugo sks they make both great truck guns.                    BigBill

[hillbilly]

well i'm not really interested in restoreing the gun but if someone is really interested in it maybe i should put it up for sale. I'll take offers