The 1903 springfield

[teddy12b]

I was watching a show on the history channel about the 1903 springfield (think that's right) and was amazed when these guys started talking about iron sighted rifles for shooting out to 1000 yards.  I've often thought about buying one of these old warhorses, but never have since I don't really know what I'd be looking for in one.

Don't get me wrong, I like a nice scope, but there's also something about being able to hit a target with iron sights too.

Anyone here shooting long range with iron sights?  I'd love to get a 30-06 with iron sights and give it a try, but that's mostly because I already reload for that caliber.

Are accurate 1903's still able to be found affordably?

[mattmillerrx]

yes, they are.  Mine is the 1903a3 which has a peep sight rear sight.  The 1903 has a more traditional rear sight with the sliding rail for yardage.  I shoot mine in a military bench rest match at 100yrds and am getting groups around 2.5 in when I do everything right (10 shot).  They will do sub MOA in the right hands with the right load, I am sure of it.  I have measure some .8 in groups out of mine with 6 or 7 of the 10 and the other 3-4 opening things up to  2.5 inches.  Which I usually blame on my shooting or my reloading not being perfect.

[AtlLaw]

I'd love to get a 30-06 with iron sights and give it a try, ...Are accurate 1903's still able to be found affordably?

03's have gone up considerably.  The a3's are usually somewhat cheaper but still pretty pricey.
I've got 2; a Remington '03 and a Remington 03a3.  I have used both In hi-power matches, but the sights on the a3 are better for that, but still not as good as necessary.

Find out where Hi-Power matches are held in your area.  A good place to start would be on the forum here at GB's!     In those matches you shoot at 200, 300 and 500 yards with service rifle sights.  And there are shoots that consist of shooting at 500/600 yards only.  The 1000 yard matches are something else again.   

Once you know where the matches are in your area, or just because you can, get an M1 garand from the CMP.  It ain't a bolt gun but is a heck of a lot of fun to shoot in a match... especially in the rapid fire portion!   

[teddy12b]

I'd love to get a 30-06 with iron sights and give it a try, ...Are accurate 1903's still able to be found affordably?

03's have gone up considerably.  The a3's are usually somewhat cheaper but still pretty pricey.
I've got 2; a Remington '03 and a Remington 03a3.  I have used both In hi-power matches, but the sights on the a3 are better for that, but still not as good as necessary.

Find out where Hi-Power matches are held in your area.  A good place to start would be on the forum here at GB's!     In those matches you shoot at 200, 300 and 500 yards with service rifle sights.  And there are shoots that consist of shooting at 500/600 yards only.  The 1000 yard matches are something else again.  

Once you know where the matches are in your area, or just because you can, get an M1 garand from the CMP.  It ain't a bolt gun but is a heck of a lot of fun to shoot in a match... especially in the rapid fire portion!  

I've been wanting to buy a Garand for years.  I'm only a couple hours drive from the CMP and could pick one up fairly conveniently compared to most.  My only problem with the Garand is that I would want to shoot modern day 30-06 ammo out of it, but I heard that I would bend the rod.  I know of the little gas part, but still haven't been too sure about buying one and going through all that.  If I bought either it'll be for range use, my guns are meant to be shot.

[AtlLaw]

I'm only a couple hours drive from the CMP

The one at Anniston, AL?  Or are you talking about Camp Perry?  I'm only a couple of hours East of Anniston on I-20!

My only problem with the Garand is that I would want to shoot modern day 30-06 ammo out of it, but I heard that I would bend the rod.

That's just not so!        Modern ammo doesn't bend operating rods, high pressure at the gas port from slow powder does!   Heck, you reload!  Don't use real slow powder or bullets over 180 gr and everythings cool!     Use IMR4895 and 147/150 gr. FMJ or 168gr and shoot away!  The bent op rod is a non-issue!  Except for the people who try to streighten the bend that's already in them that is!   

There's a ton of load data out there for the Garand.  Or just get the Greek ball ammo from the CMP; if they have any left.  That's great stuff, and reloadable!   

If I bought either it'll be for range use, my guns are meant to be shot.

That's what the Garand is (or at least used to be) sold to the pubic for!  To get the public shooting!  Remember the CMP's foundation; the DCM.  I tell ya, it's your patriotic duty to buy and shoot a Garand!  And buy one from the CMP.  An M1 novice can get a rifle from them in complete confidence.  Not so in buying anywhere else, like from a gunshow!   

I enjoy shooting all my milsurps... but John Wayne carried a Garand!   

[teddy12b]

I'm not too far from Camp Perry.  Close enough that I have no excuse for never going there.

Thanks for clearing up the operating rod myth for me.  That's always been one of my main road blocks to buyign one.

I guess if it's my patriotic duty to own one I should do so.  I just want to make sure I could find one that would really shoot.

[kiddekop]

I'd love to get a 30-06 with iron sights and give it a try, ...Are accurate 1903's still able to be found affordably?

03's have gone up considerably.  The a3's are usually somewhat cheaper but still pretty pricey.
I've got 2; a Remington '03 and a Remington 03a3.  I have used both In hi-power matches, but the sights on the a3 are better for that, but still not as good as necessary.

Find out where Hi-Power matches are held in your area.  A good place to start would be on the forum here at GB's!     In those matches you shoot at 200, 300 and 500 yards with service rifle sights.  And there are shoots that consist of shooting at 500/600 yards only.  The 1000 yard matches are something else again.   

Once you know where the matches are in your area, or just because you can, get an M1 garand from the CMP.  It ain't a bolt gun but is a heck of a lot of fun to shoot in a match... especially in the rapid fire portion!   

Try www.williamsgunsight.com then click used guns and rifles where you'll find garands,an 03a3 & 1903.Price an 03A4 on cmp & other forums these are the sniper rifles that will shoot very,very tight groups Gun Broker had one Buy Now for $4000 but noone bid on it CMP has one w/o a scope bid is up to $1505 with 6 + days to go.Guns America has a listing of a complete 1903A-4 WW2 Sniper Rifle with scope  Item # 918833100 for $8599.00

[kiddekop]

I'd love to get a 30-06 with iron sights and give it a try, ...Are accurate 1903's still able to be found affordably?

03's have gone up considerably.  The a3's are usually somewhat cheaper but still pretty pricey.
I've got 2; a Remington '03 and a Remington 03a3.  I have used both In hi-power matches, but the sights on the a3 are better for that, but still not as good as necessary.

Find out where Hi-Power matches are held in your area.  A good place to start would be on the forum here at GB's!     In those matches you shoot at 200, 300 and 500 yards with service rifle sights.  And there are shoots that consist of shooting at 500/600 yards only.  The 1000 yard matches are something else again.  

Once you know where the matches are in your area, or just because you can, get an M1 garand from the CMP.  It ain't a bolt gun but is a heck of a lot of fun to shoot in a match... especially in the rapid fire portion!  

I've been wanting to buy a Garand for years.  I'm only a couple hours drive from the CMP and could pick one up fairly conveniently compared to most.  My only problem with the Garand is that I would want to shoot modern day 30-06 ammo out of it, but I heard that I would bend the rod.  I know of the little gas part, but still haven't been too sure about buying one and going through all that.  If I bought either it'll be for range use, my guns are meant to be shot.

Purchase a www.mccannindustries.com gas system and read their tutorial on the website about making a garand into a bolt action rifle that doesn't cycle and isn't hard on the rifle innards.It can be purchased at www.brownells.com

[messer454]

[/quote]Purchase a www.mccannindustries.com gas system and read their tutorial on the website about making a garand into a bolt action rifle that doesn't cycle and isn't hard on the rifle innards.It can be purchased at www.brownells.com
[/quote]

I just got a Garand from the CMP a couple of weeks ago.  This device is neater than the dickens.  I must do a little more research on it!

[Victor3]

"Don't get me wrong, I like a nice scope, but there's also something about being able to hit a target with iron sights too."

 I agree. Problem is, as my eyes have gotten older I can't do near as well as I used to. Stock rear sights on many of the milsurps I shoot have been replaced with receiver peeps or optics. Them tiny notches on some of my rifles look like cotton balls to me now

 Stock A3 and Garand rear sights aint bad, but the hole is still kinda big to my eye. Smaller hole seems to work better as the eyes start going fuzzy.

[Mikey]

I love shooting long range with old mil-surps.  My eyes have gotten worse over time but if I wear my glasses I can see the sights just fine.  My problem is getting targets big enough to see at 1k, or carrying them out there. 

[Avyctes]

I second any advise on buying an M1 from CMP. 

For someone who lives as close as you do, simply take a day to drive to the N/S store, take your time picking out the rifle that meets all of your requirements, grab some ammo while you're there. 

A few years ago I rode up to the North Store with my dad and picked out a nice H&R M1.  Since then I wrangled an SA out of a buddy, traded him a Ruger Blackhawk convertible for it, a rack grade. 

As long as you use genuine M2 Ball, you're fine, or reload to mil-spec.  I'd say brand new ammo specified as .30-06 Springfield would be acceptable, as it should be loaded to original specs. 

CMP has m1917s right now, but no 03/03A3s.  But the m1917 would be a fine .30-06 bolt gun to obtain, whether for shooting, investment or collecting.

[kiddekop]

I second any advise on buying an M1 from CMP. 

For someone who lives as close as you do, simply take a day to drive to the N/S store, take your time picking out the rifle that meets all of your requirements, grab some ammo while you're there. 

A few years ago I rode up to the North Store with my dad and picked out a nice H&R M1.  Since then I wrangled an SA out of a buddy, traded him a Ruger Blackhawk convertible for it, a rack grade. 

As long as you use genuine M2 Ball, you're fine, or reload to mil-spec.  I'd say brand new ammo specified as .30-06 Springfield would be acceptable, as it should be loaded to original specs. 

CMP has m1917s right now, but no 03/03A3s.  But the m1917 would be a fine .30-06 bolt gun to obtain, whether for shooting, investment or collecting.

March 1986 American Rifleman had an article Reloading For The M1 Rifle covers bullets from 150gr thru 200gr,I used the data for matches with 150gr hornaday fmj bullets and for hunting mule deer in colorado using a nosler 165gr ballistic tip,imr 4895,cci lr & remington 9 1/2 mag primers on cold weather hunts in colorado in november worked great dropped a muley buck via neck shot.

[kiddekop]

Purchase a www.mccannindustries.com gas system and read their tutorial on the website about making a garand into a bolt action rifle that doesn't cycle and isn't hard on the rifle innards.It can be purchased at www.brownells.com
[/quote]

I just got a Garand from the CMP a couple of weeks ago.  This device is neater than the dickens.  I must do a little more research on it!
[/quote]I asked the NRA to republish the article in the 3/86 am rifleman Reloading For The M1 Rifle as it has lots of interesting information about garands,the load data is very accurate from my experience and others who have used the data to load ammo for their garands.I kept my copy of the 3/86 rifleman .

[kiddekop]

yes, they are.  Mine is the 1903a3 which has a peep sight rear sight.  The 1903 has a more traditional rear sight with the sliding rail for yardage.  I shoot mine in a military bench rest match at 100yrds and am getting groups around 2.5 in when I do everything right (10 shot).  They will do sub MOA in the right hands with the right load, I am sure of it.  I have measure some .8 in groups out of mine with 6 or 7 of the 10 and the other 3-4 opening things up to  2.5 inches.  Which I usually blame on my shooting or my reloading not being perfect.

My neighbor bought a 1903 A3 from a gun auction.The owner bought it in 1961 for $10 had all of the paper work & lettter sent with a 4 cent stamp wasn't used by the owner   my neighbor paid about $970! I was a student at the Univ of AZ in 1961 and could've bought a 1903 or a 1903A3 from the national rifle association but I was newly married on the GI Bill getting $135/mo,my wife didn't think we could afford it! I gave my neighbor  the 3/86 Am Rifleman article Reloading for the M1 Rifle