Question on a 03A3 hackjob
I got a 03A3 that someone decided to sporterize, not something I would have done but since it was hacked I bought it. I have always wanted a 25-06 on a 03 action, just do, so this rifle will be used as is (maybe) until the piece oc cherry I have drying is ready to become a stock. Then I intended to rebbl it to 25-06.
I like the 7 F rule for firearms, its listed 1-7
Here she be
1, Fit - How does the firearm feel to the hand, shoulder, cheek.
Well, the stock is a little low because it started life as a 03A3, still has a steel butt plate which I dont mind at all.
...........
2, Finish - Does it look like it was dragged behind a truck, or is it a piece of art.
Best to say there are no sharp edges on the stock the "gunsmithing" is well.........
................
3, Feel - General overall impression, slide/bolt/cylinder is smooth or not, trigger feel.
Whomever did the work actually did a fair job on the trigger. The bolt works smooth, but for some unknown reason it looks like they ran a drill in the FP hole and concaved it in. See pics
...............
The one on the left is from the hack, the one on the rt is one fired from the Garand the same day
I cut the first 2 loose with the stock on my bicep and anything important away from the back of the bolt. After I saw the first primer, I got a tad upset. A very close inspection of the case revealed no outward signs of pressure. I looked at the bolt close and saw the concave around the FP hole. I tossed another out of it with me out of the way. Again the primer was belled but no pressure.
..............................
4, Function - does it work with what you fed it? FTF's FTE's? felt recoil.
I made tsure the saftey glasses were on nice and tight and launched a few more, worked like it should as long as you dont candy hand the bolt, extraction and ejection was flawless.
....................
5, Fireing - group size, benched with a rifle, off hand or bagged with a pistol.
SUPRISE SUPRISE, dang thing shoots a lot better than it looks. When I had the courage to get behind it I shot a 3 round 1 1/2 group. Load was Hornady 165gr BTSP over 52 gr 4350.
Tossed another 3 round group into a inch.
Then since this will be used for my wife (if she wants to go deer hunting this year, and until I make it a 25-06) I had her shoot 3, 3 round groups. She shot a 1.5, a 3/4 and a 2+ group with it.
I was kinda hoping that it would shoot worse so that when it comes time to pull the bbl I wouldnt feel bad.
A real serious Tstorm took care of the target, it was soaked so no target pics.
....................
6, Frugality - was it worth IYO, what you paid? Will it do what you want it to.
150.00 with a real cheap scope that the adj covers had black tape under them to hold them on. It was worth it. Even if for some reason I dont convert it.
....................
7, Fun Factor - you enjoy it?
Bought it to take it apart, it works, in general Im happy.
............................................................................
Ok, questions.
About having a bolt refaced. What am I looking at, aggravation wise and cost wise?
Anyone, any thoughts on why the heck someone would take some off of the FP hole, leaving the hole where and in the condition it was, just releving the area around it??
Perhaps a better way might be to go for a new bolt, since I will be having it trued anyway.
Dont know, need input
Those people who see nothing but grey areas, no black and white, are lost in the fog.
I like the 7 F rule for firearms, its listed 1-7
Here she be
1, Fit - How does the firearm feel to the hand, shoulder, cheek.
Well, the stock is a little low because it started life as a 03A3, still has a steel butt plate which I dont mind at all.
...........
2, Finish - Does it look like it was dragged behind a truck, or is it a piece of art.
Best to say there are no sharp edges on the stock the "gunsmithing" is well.........
................
3, Feel - General overall impression, slide/bolt/cylinder is smooth or not, trigger feel.
Whomever did the work actually did a fair job on the trigger. The bolt works smooth, but for some unknown reason it looks like they ran a drill in the FP hole and concaved it in. See pics
...............
The one on the left is from the hack, the one on the rt is one fired from the Garand the same day
I cut the first 2 loose with the stock on my bicep and anything important away from the back of the bolt. After I saw the first primer, I got a tad upset. A very close inspection of the case revealed no outward signs of pressure. I looked at the bolt close and saw the concave around the FP hole. I tossed another out of it with me out of the way. Again the primer was belled but no pressure.
..............................
4, Function - does it work with what you fed it? FTF's FTE's? felt recoil.
I made tsure the saftey glasses were on nice and tight and launched a few more, worked like it should as long as you dont candy hand the bolt, extraction and ejection was flawless.
....................
5, Fireing - group size, benched with a rifle, off hand or bagged with a pistol.
SUPRISE SUPRISE, dang thing shoots a lot better than it looks. When I had the courage to get behind it I shot a 3 round 1 1/2 group. Load was Hornady 165gr BTSP over 52 gr 4350.
Tossed another 3 round group into a inch.
Then since this will be used for my wife (if she wants to go deer hunting this year, and until I make it a 25-06) I had her shoot 3, 3 round groups. She shot a 1.5, a 3/4 and a 2+ group with it.
I was kinda hoping that it would shoot worse so that when it comes time to pull the bbl I wouldnt feel bad.
A real serious Tstorm took care of the target, it was soaked so no target pics.
....................
6, Frugality - was it worth IYO, what you paid? Will it do what you want it to.
150.00 with a real cheap scope that the adj covers had black tape under them to hold them on. It was worth it. Even if for some reason I dont convert it.
....................
7, Fun Factor - you enjoy it?
Bought it to take it apart, it works, in general Im happy.
............................................................................
Ok, questions.
About having a bolt refaced. What am I looking at, aggravation wise and cost wise?
Anyone, any thoughts on why the heck someone would take some off of the FP hole, leaving the hole where and in the condition it was, just releving the area around it??
Perhaps a better way might be to go for a new bolt, since I will be having it trued anyway.
Dont know, need input
Those people who see nothing but grey areas, no black and white, are lost in the fog.
0
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Varmint, you worry me.
Think about what you've done: You took a hacked-up high power rifle with unknown headspace and let your wife fire it? I really don't think that is a good idea; if something were to go wrong, you will never hear the end of it. Before you do anything else, take the rifle to a gunsmith and have everything checked out.
Neal0 -
replace the bolt 'NOW'. 03 bolts are cheap. eye's are expensive. 0 -
Mike is right! You can order a new bolt or surplus one from Gun Parts. Catolog 21 has complete bolt assemblys with the low scope safety for about $30.00 listed on page 92 of that catolog. Better to be safe than sorry! after you replace the bolt take it to a smith and have them check the headspace.
About 5 yaers ago I bought my Smith Corona 03A3 from a guy for a $150 also, but the only thing wrong with it was that the stock had been chopped. before I paid for it I had a smith friend of mine check it out. the metal had not been messed with so I found an orignal stock and put it back together as close to original as possible. It's a great shooter and I don't think I'll ever part with it.
If it shoots as good as you say it does why not keep it in 30-06 until you wear the barrel out? Of coarse that may take forever but to each his own.
If you ain't got a sense of humor you got no business bein here!0 -
I bought my hacked o3 years ago,I love it.Shoots so true it scares me,cause I don't usually do that well with long guns of this sort.Is everyone sayin I should have the bolt checked for some reason? Anyhow I don't mess with mine,it works...why mess it up....25-06 sounds interesting tho....no...maybe...you'll have to let us know how it works out.... 0 -
No longhunter, I had the smith give me an approximate value of the gun and he checked it as part of his inspection
If you ain't got a sense of humor you got no business bein here!0 -
nmyers,
1. I shot it first with no part of my body behind or around the bolt. Twice.
2. I know what exessive headspace looks like if it shows signs of.
3. I then fired it 7 times with no case showing problems other than the primer fitting the boltface EXACTLY. No strech, pclip to feel the inside, ece ect.
I agree that a new bolt or bolt body is the answer and it will be ordered before Sat. Bolt bodies are going 8-20 bucks. And yes it will go to the gunsmith to do a check when it is replaced.
Longhunter, its going to 25-06 because I have 5 30-06's now. 3 03 variants, a Garand, and a custom built off a Orbendorf action. And I always wanted a 25-06 on a 03 action. A 03A3 that is stuck in a orig stock and has the rec drilled and tapped, and the stripper clip ears ground off holds no interest to me since I have 3 that are "right"
The main question is, why would anyone relive the FP hole????? Look at the pic, the primer EXACTLY fits the boltface, no pressure signs.
Those people who see nothing but grey areas, no black and white, are lost in the fog.0 -
Be careful in rebarreling, sometimes the dope they use on the barrel threads is a little corrosive, ya wind up trashing the threads on the reciever removing the barrel on the 1903. The bolt definitely should be replaced though, that's an accident waiting to happen. Outside of that, it looks like a nice shooter, congrats[:D]
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN0 -
1.REPLACE THE BOLT !!
2.Sell the barrel.
3.Chuck that sleezoid stamped trigger guard.0
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