1903 Springfield Question

chemeng

October 04, 2003 07:22

Can someone tell me what the letters "HS" mean on a 1903 Springfield barrel?
Thanks for your help.

0

• 

  chemeng

  October 04, 2003 07:22

  Recently purchased a 1903 Springfield Armory rifle made in 1914 (serial # 540XXX) and rebarrelled in June 1919 (6-19 barrel date).
  I know the improved heat treating started after the 800,000 serial range but am not sure if the rebarrelling would make this gun safe to shoot with modern ammo or is the receiver the weak link?
  
  Thanks, Mike

  0
• 

  rufe-snow

  October 04, 2003 07:31

  http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=71562

  0
• 

  MIKE WISKEY

  October 04, 2003 07:39

  the receiver IS the weak link. that said I have several low # 03 that I shoot with m-2 ball and cast bullet loads. 'I' consider this safe, however 'I' would not shoot commercial ammo in them as this generats more pressure that military m-2.

  0
• 

  mark christian

  October 04, 2003 08:29

  Chemeng, (I'm guessing you are a CHEMical ENGineer) this issue has been around for nearly 100 years and will probably be with us for another century. Low numbered Model 1903 receivers were not properly heat treated and are brittle due to being "cooked" too long. There is nothing that can be done to correct this fault and the military attempted to reheat treat low numbered receivers on different occassions...all such attempts were failures. The issue of chamber pressure is not often addressed but I will do so here and you can form your own opinion. When your rifle was produced in 1914 the standard US service cartridge was the M1906 cal .30 with a 150 gr bullet and ths was a rather low pressure loading by later and current standards. When the low numbered receivers began to fail each incident occured when firing the M1906 loading. The higher pressure .30 cal M1 ball round was not adopted until 1930 and the .30 cal M2 round in 1940. ALL of the Model 1903 service rifle failures occured firing the early M1906 round with LOW pressure loadings.
  
  Exactly how low the chamber pressures may need to be in order to insure that the receiver of a low number Model 1903 will not fail has never been established, at least not to the point that I'd risk bodily harm firing such a rifle. Nearly everyone selling an early Model 1903 will insist on a "non firing" statement from the rifle's buyer to CYA just in case the worst happens. Firing a low number Model 1903 incures the same risks as firing an M1 Garand with an unmodified operating rod: there is a known defect in the rifle and it may shoot safely for 10,000 rounds or it may fail on the next shot...you won't know until it happens!
  
  Mark T. Christian

  0
• 

  Colt Super

  October 04, 2003 13:45

  Mark - WHAT modification to the operating rod, and how does one know if it has been modified?

  0
• 

  chemeng

  October 04, 2003 13:52

  Hi Everyone,
  
  Thanks for the info. Probably put it in the back of the safe and clean it every couple of months. I usually shoot milsurp ammo and it varies so much it is better to not take the chance.
  
  Mark - I am a Chemical Engineer.
  
  Thanks again, Mike

  0
• 

  kingjoey

  October 04, 2003 14:02

  quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
  Mark - WHAT modification to the operating rod, and how does one know if it has been modified?
  
  
  I know some of the early op-rods were breaking near the handle and causing the guns not to go fully into battery or causing them to jam. The newer rods have a "relief" cut on the underside of the assy
  
  Love them Beavers
  
  
  SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.