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Low # '03 RIA Springfield Concern

bottlesteve
I recently purchased a 1903 RIA serial #82486 at a show and was told at purchase to use a "light round";140gr or less if possible but never as heavy as 180gr.
The owner of my favorite shop said he's shot modern rounds in his with no problems.
While I have no plans to shoot more than 50 rounds,just to get the feel, I REALLY don't want to destroy my prize, much less wind up with a face full of antique rifle!
I would be just as happy to leave it hanging on the wall with my other venerable militaries.
I'd like a "third opinion" on this matter.
Thanx


Stephan E. Ripsom
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Comments

2 comments

Date Votes
  • GaBob
    Mark is right !!
    I am wearing pieces of a Springfield in my face.
    You don't want to do that
    My 1903-A3 let go after I had been shooting it for 30 years. We never found the top of receiver and part of the stock. There had been a crack in receiver ring apparently for years. The metal was discolored for over 1/2 inch in the break. I was wearing prescription glasses and hearing protection. Ear muff went about 6 feet in front of shooting table and I went flat on my back. A piece of something punched thru the right lens of my glasses and embedded in eyebrow. Another piece cut an artery in my nose and I sprayed blood everywhere. The piece in nose came out the inside of nostril on a Q-tip several months later. My arms had shards of metal all over. The ER people rubbed gauze over arms until it snagged then extracted metal. Still got piece in eyebrow and couple in face.

    Keep Your Powder Dry
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    gabob's experience, unplesant as it was, has nothing to do with your 1903 (the 03-a3's are ww2 upgraded (cheapened) rifles and not subject to the faults of the early 1903's. I'd go with Mark's advise as to not shooting it unless the barrel has been replaced (means it had been shot some before) and the only with reduced or cast bullet loads. bullet weight has nothing to do with pressure.
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