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Question on 1903 Springfields

cabnetman
I have two 1903 Springfields that have been sporterized. Both are beautiful guns but one is just magnificent. The first one is a Remington with a serial number in the 3 million ranges, not a problem. The other one is a Rock Island with a serial # 279xxx. That gun is absolutely beautiful and I have hunted with it and shot it a lot. However I have been reading about the problems with the Rock Island low serial numbers and I can no longer shoot that gun without flinching.

Question: I would like to swap the stock, trigger (Timney), bolt, and magazine and trigger guard on the R.I. and put them on the Remington stock and put the Remington hardware on the other stock. Problem is that both barrels have been turned and cut down behind the original front sight. Both are just different enough that the barrels don't fit in the opposite stocks. How difficult would it be to swap the barrels on the chambers and can it be done?
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  • cabnetman
    I have two 1903 Springfields that have been sporterized. Both are beautiful guns but one is just magnificent. The first one is a Remington with a serial number in the 3 million ranges, not a problem. The other one is a Rock Island with a serial # 279xxx. That gun is absolutely beautiful and I have hunted with it and shot it a lot. However I have been reading about the problems with the Rock Island low serial numbers and I can no longer shoot that gun without flinching.

    Question: I would like to swap the stock, trigger (Timney), bolt, and magazine and trigger guard on the R.I. and put them on the Remington stock and put the Remington hardware on the other stock. Problem is that both barrels have been turned and cut down behind the original front sight. Both are just different enough that the barrels don't fit in the opposite stocks. How difficult would it be to swap the barrels on the chambers and can it be done?
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  • colt423
    bill you are so right, those low number rock island receivers are very brittle, were hardened to much. With out inletting the stocks to fit the other barrel, you can have the barrels swapped on the receivers. I did this on two 03 about 15 years ago for 100.00. I recommend you find a good gun smith and make sure of the head space after the job is done. good luck. j
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  • cabnetman
    quote:bill you are so right, those low number rock island receivers are very brittle, were hardened to much. With out inletting the stocks to fit the other barrel, you can have the barrels swapped on the receivers. I did this on two 03 about 15 years ago for 100.00. I recommend you find a good gun smith and make sure of the head space after the job is done. good luck. jThat's exactly what I would like to do as I think that would be the easiest way to solve my dilemma. Am I correct in my thinking, that once the barrels are changed that the bolts are interchangeable and will work in either gun?
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  • RCrosby
    Is there any reason to not just leave the bolts with their own receivers? They may or may not interchance, but why?
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  • nmyers
    A BOLT WILL WORK IN EITHER RIFLE. HOWEVER, THE HEADSPACE MAY NOT BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. ANYTIME YOU CHANGE THE BOLT IN A RIFLE OF THIS TYPE, YOU MUST CHECK THE HEADSPACE; IF IT IS NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS, THE BARREL OR THE RECEIVER MUST BE ALTERED TO OBTAIN THE CORRECT HEADSPACE. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN RESULT IN FAILURE TO FUNCTION OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

    YOU CAN DO A SEARCH ON THE WORD "HEADSPACE" IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM.

    Neal
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