Hunting load for Springfield 03-A3

[dubber123]

Last year I picked up a beauty of an 03-A3 for a song.  It's a Smith Corona, all matching numbers.  At first I wasn't going to shoot it, but that lasted about 20 minutes.  Had to pay 20$ at the local  variety store for plain green box Remington 150's.  I fired a few groups at 50 yds., and got it zeroed.  The last group was about 1/2".  I would like to carry this a few days this next deer season, and would like to know if anyone has a favorite load for this rifle.  I know it will probably handle any reasonable load, but I don't really want to push it.  Any suggestions?

[Mikey]

Any standard pressure 30-06 load should shoot just fine in that old 03-A3.  You do not need anyone's light magnums or anything like that.  Depending on the size of your local whitetail or the range you normally hunt at, either the 150s you are shooting now or 180s will be fine.

Personally, I would make that Smith and Corona a safe queen and buy something else for the field.  But, that's jmho.  Mikey.

[dubber123]

Mikey, a big deer around here is 200 lbs, most about 150, so I know I don't need alot of power.  (Still hunted a couple days last year with a .416 Rigby, just "because").  I probably should keep it in the safe, but I like hunting with "neat" guns that you aren't likely to see during the season.  I generally hunt with handguns, but thought I might give it a try.  This gun is an easy 98+% condition, and came with a bayonet, for 75 bucks!  Think I did OK on this one?

[Mikey]

dubber - Yep, I think you did alright with that one.  Yep! Mikey.