My first negligent discharge! And I got it on video.

Thanks for posting your video....

First, '03 Springfields, even the National Match '03's were set up with better than 4 lbs triggers. They were two-stage, an ~2 lb. take up movement, then the subsequent sear release requiring an add'l ~2-3 lbs. That system made for a safe and easily manipulated, military use trigger.

2nd: Your rifle is allowing the striker/firing pin assembly to follow through when the bolt is closed. Very dangerous since the firing pin is extended from the bolt face, impacting the primer as the bolt is closing....with quick manipulation, you risk firing the cartridge with the bolt handle not completely down, i.e. the bolt lugs are not completely engaged. Upwards of 50,000 lbs of gas pressure could be released through the unsupported & ruptured case.

3rd: Nomenclature: The safety is on the rear of the bolt; marked SAFE and READY. The lever on the left side of the receiver is the magazine cut-off; marked ON and OFF. The Mag cut off has no function on the fall of the firing pin; it controls feeding of rounds from the box magazine & in the mid position, it allows the bolt to be withdrawn.

My suggestion is to replace the entire trigger assembly, to include the two-piece, firing pin & striker. If you do this yourself, test it with dummy cartridges only, then with primer only. I'd not, under any circumstances, try that bolt/firing pin assembly with live ammunition until the cocking piece is positively held in the fully locked in it's cocked, rearmost position as the bolt is closed.

I do own a 1931 National Match '03, original in all details. The trigger is ~4-5 lbs and plenty sensitive for target use. Here's a few pics...issued in '31 at Camp Perry, the shooter bought it after the match. I picked it up two decades ago for $1500 with all the Camp Perry paperwork etc., and shot it in the Springfield Match in '07. It scored a 92 at 600 yds on sight-in day on Rodriguez. Pic #1 shows it with O'hara sight protectors in place on both front and rear sights.

Best Regards, Rod







 
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One thing you could have done differently and better, though, was to have thoroughly checked out the functions of the gun before loading ammo into it or taking it to the range. Most likely, whatever is wrong with the gun didn't just happen while you were shooting it there at the range, and if so, you'd have discovered the problem without the unintended discharge.
Yeah, I had never fired the 1903 before and thought maybe it required a round in the chamber in order to function properly. Sounds dumb now, I know.
 
I wouldn't call that negligent. Unintentional, and perhaps a bit uninformed, but you took steps to make sure an unintentional discharge would do no damage. That's the opposite of negligent.

Thanks for posting the video.
 
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