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03 SPRINGFIELD

318LJ
Would like an opinion on building a sporter on a low number springfield receiver. Caliber would be 7x57 mauser. thanks.
Larry
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • 318LJ
    need a ballpark value on an 03 springfield in 30-06 calibre.
    80% condition, v-g bore.
    thanx
    barto

    the hard stuff we do right away - the impossible takes a little longer
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  • Herschel
    In view of the evidence that some of the low numbers have burned steel from improper heat treating, it would be a mistake to use one of these for building a sporter. Considering the time and expense going into making a sporter, the extra cost of a hign number or 03A3 action would be worth it.
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  • nmyers
    My thinking is that, unless you are enrolled in a gunsmith school, projects involving sporterizing old military guns are not worth doing. They only look good if the work is done by a skilled craftsman, & that will run into a lot of money. And, when finished, it will still be heavy & look like what it really is.

    I'd go out & buy a new, modern rifle in the caliber you want; you should be able to get one for a lot less than $1,000.

    Neal
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  • Hunter375
    quote:Originally posted by Herschel

    In view of the evidence that some of the low numbers have burned steel from improper heat treating, it would be a mistake to use one of these for building a sporter. Considering the time and expense going into making a sporter, the extra cost of a hign number or 03A3 action would be worth it.






    To elaborate, early production '03 rifles were heat treated by amature metal workers who guessed at the color of the steel to judge temperature. Obviously, the glow varies depending on ambient light. This resulted in some brittle recievers and a few resulting accidents. No one was ever reported killed by reciever failure, although some people has fairly severe facial trauma. The number of incidents to date is really quite low. The process was standardized around 1919 and any rifle numbered above 800,000 is fine. Most of the lower ones are fine two. My M1903 is below 800,000 and it shoots just fine. Reciever is 1919, rebarreled at S.A. in July of 1942. I shoot it all the time with full loads, no worries.

    It's easy to spot liberals-they are the ones who have no assets to protect and need every handout they can get. They have forbeyed themselves ascendence to a productive lifestyle.
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  • Sunray
    "...heat treated by amature(sic) metal workers who guessed at the color of the steel to judge temperature..." Um, no. The first guys who did the heat treating were very experienced and could guess at the temperature by eye and be close enough. The wartime workers didn't have the experience to do this and as there were no proper guages they tended to burn the steel. The double heat treatment and using proper guages fixed it.
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  • rwfixem
    I would either buy a nice sporterized 03 or spend my money getting a new rifle. If you can't do the work yourself don't have an 03 built now. They really are not worth what it costs to get-r-done right.
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  • bpost
    Rock Island receiver serials below 289,000 are properly treated. 800,000 is about right for Springfield receivers.

    There was a recent article on the serial # issue, I think it was in the American Rifleman. Doing a google search will get you all the serial number facts to go from. Your rifle may be just fine. Hatchers notebook has a good deal of information on the subject of faoled receivers and injuries from them.

    I tend to agree that project rifles are too expensive unless you do it all yourself. Brownells has all the guages and tools to do the job, but it is a big investment. With the number of very accurate rifles now available for modest cost it is simply too expensive to have one built.
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