New timber for my Springer

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I had un-sporterized my high-number 1903 a couple years ago with a new forend and a NOS low-hump handguard. It turned out OK, and shoots like a laser, but I wasn't really happy with the looks or handling. Tried as I might, I could never get the wood stain to match and the slick-side Remington stock didn't promote a stable grip or bolt manipulation.



I really prefer grasping grooves and the hi-hump upper wood, so when a supply of these finished, early-style Minelli repro stocks showed up on Ebay for a reasonable sum, I jumped on one.



Overall, I'm pretty happy with the result, but a drop-in operation it was not. It's obvious Minelli used an 03A3 as a mule when they set up the tooling for this stock and there are a few differences. The lower band retainer hole was round and had to be squared off for a milled '03 retainer and the upper band crossbolt hole had to be redrilled for a milled part as well.
Additionally, the wood was far too thick under both bands, requiring several hours of careful shaving to correct.



The grasping grooves are a bit shallow compared to the real article and the "high-hump" handguard profile isn't quite right either, but overall it looks a lot closer to how a 1918 production gun left the factory. On the plus side, the recoil bolts and trigger guard fit snug and square. I topped it off with a NOS Remington checkered buttplate replacing the slip-prone smooth part that came with the gun.



These stocks aren't outrageous, but they ain't cheap either. The finish is a rather dull and dark oil, the lines aren't perfect and some of the dimensional issues are significant, but I guess Id give Minelli a B+ for effort. If you have an '03 in need of new wood- and you aren't afraid of some sweat and elbow grease- you may want to grab one while you can.

 

[Pat Riot]

I think your rifle looks great. Good job!

 

[trackskippy]

Looks good!

Now, break out the BLO and get to rubbing. Looks like some nice things will jump out at you too.

 

[EMC45]

Real pretty rifle

 

[Riomouse911]

Great job bringing the rifle back to its original look (close enough for my eyes, anyway!). The effort you put in sure paid off handsomely.

When it warms up a bit, it’s time to head out and see how it shoots!

Stay safe.

 

[JeffG]

I think you did a great job! Handsome rifle!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Looks good!

Now, break out the BLO and get to rubbing. Looks like some nice things will jump out at you too.

I was thinking that too. There's actually some nice figuring hiding in there.

 

[Rodfac]

Outstanding job, Night....were I questioned as to what the end all, be all, rifle should look like, it'd be the 1903A1. Great looking rifle...looking fwd to range reports. Question; did you glass bed the action?

Best Regards, Rod

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Outstanding job, Night....were I questioned as to what the end all, be all, rifle should look like, it'd be the 1903A1. Great looking rifle...looking fwd to range reports. Question; did you glass bed the action?

Best Regards, Rod

Nah, didnt need it before. Ill have to see how this one shoots in the new wood and can always bed it later.
I just realized why I had such trouble with the upper band- its a M1917 part! I ordered the correct one, but it may not fit now....oh well the one on there is nice and tight now and they are cosmetically similiar. Lol.

 

[dh1633pm]

Excellent. I got a replacement stock for my 1903A3, mostly so I wouldn't bang up the original. It looks nice and I am not so concerned about a bump or scratch. The stock looks great.

 

[Rodfac]

Nah, didnt need it before. Ill have to see how this one shoots in the new wood and can always bed it later.
I just realized why I had such trouble with the upper band- its a M1917 part! I ordered the correct one, but it may not fit now....oh well the one on there is nice and tight now and they are cosmetically similiar. Lol.

Sounds good on the bedding. There's so much of it touching in front of the recoil lug, that it's often a crapshoot trying to analyze group migration. I've toyed with relieving the upper band, and honing the stacking swivel mortice and had some luck.

Back when the CMP was selling '03's, I bought and refurbished a half dozen of them...Some were complete junk as they came out of the shipping box too, but all...all...ended up as good/great shooters. Soaking cosmoline out of the stocks was a real headache and I tried nearly all of the bubba methods. In the end, repeated soaking with mineral spirits, drying then reheating to draw it to the surface seemed to work best.

Reading Brophy's tome on the 03 along with Crossman, Hatcher and several others, I tweaked the handguards and fore end's to get groups stable in hot rapid fire. The goal at Springfield in manufacture, with standard infantry issue going to the troops arms, was a 5 lb. upward pressure at the bayonet lug. For the National Match '03's, they would go further, ensuring that the recoil lug seat and actions were inletted to full contact, and shot the rifles to zero and settle the action in the stock. Grouping, hand shot was to be less than 3" at 100 using the ladder sights, and most would cut that in half.

Finishing was done with tung oil over a reddish logwood stain, initially but war-time production demands forced them into using boiled linseed oil. For my use, and that of family members, we used multiple coats of tung to get an ok seal on the wood, both inside the stock and out. Talking with the Marine armorers at Perry, some still around from the M1 and M14 days, they said they used thick polyurethane on all wood, inside and out and still suffered zero shift on rainy days.

The rifle below is a National Match 1931 '03A1, issued that yr at Camp Perry, & has the logwood stain/tung oil treatment, with the wood 'boned' to a smooth finish. With an 'in the white' bolt, numbered to the receiver, tight sights and perfect bedding, it's (IMHO), the most beautiful military rifle of all time.

Son #1 and I went to Perry in '06 & '07 where he competed in the service rifle events, and I joined the old farts on the Vintage, M1, and Carbine shoots. Gary Anderson was running the '03 match, and I got him to let me shoot my Nat'l Match '03 over the course (they were not legal at the time) ... he "X'd" out my score sheet so it didn't contend, but firing the old girl again, 75 years later was a real thrill. Though I 'saved' two rounds with a fumbled reload in sitting rapid, I still qualified for the 'silver' medal (top 10%) in the match. The day prior, at "sight-in" day, I scored a 92 at 600 with it on Rodriguez using the tiny peep on the ladder sight. This was with 1968 vintage M-72 National Match ammunition.

So here's the piece. I've got the program for the '31 matches, and the rifle came with the original O'Hare sight protectors and micrometer elevation tool. Love the red logwood finish on it, the smooth bolt throw and of course, the Star gauge punch on the muzzle crown. I continue to shoot it occasionally, & 90% of the time with a cast bullet load I developed. It's still far more accurate than I can hold. If my math is right, she's 16 yrs older than I am...
Best Regards, Rod

​

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Sounds good on the bedding. There's so much of it touching in front of the recoil lug, that it's often a crapshoot trying to analyze group migration. I've toyed with relieving the upper band, and honing the stacking swivel mortice and had some luck.

Back when the CMP was selling '03's, I bought and refurbished a half dozen of them...Some were complete junk as they came out of the shipping box too, but all...all...ended up as good/great shooters. Soaking cosmoline out of the stocks was a real headache and I tried nearly all of the bubba methods. In the end, repeated soaking with mineral spirits, drying then reheating to draw it to the surface seemed to work best.

Reading Brophy's tome on the 03 along with Crossman, Hatcher and several others, I tweaked the handguards and fore end's to get groups stable in hot rapid fire. The goal at Springfield in manufacture, with standard infantry issue going to the troops arms, was a 5 lb. upward pressure at the bayonet lug. For the National Match '03's, they would go further, ensuring that the recoil lug seat and actions were inletted to full contact, and shot the rifles to zero and settle the action in the stock. Grouping, hand shot was to be less than 3" at 100 using the ladder sights, and most would cut that in half.

Finishing was done with tung oil over a reddish logwood stain, initially but war-time production demands forced them into using boiled linseed oil. For my use, and that of family members, we used multiple coats of tung to get an ok seal on the wood, both inside the stock and out. Talking with the Marine armorers at Perry, some still around from the M1 and M14 days, they said they used thick polyurethane on all wood, inside and out and still suffered zero shift on rainy days.

The rifle below is a National Match 1931 '03A1, issued that yr at Camp Perry, & has the logwood stain/tung oil treatment, with the wood 'boned' to a smooth finish. With an 'in the white' bolt, numbered to the receiver, tight sights and perfect bedding, it's (IMHO), the most beautiful military rifle of all time.

Son #1 and I went to Perry in '06 & '07 where he competed in the service rifle events, and I joined the old farts on the Vintage, M1, and Carbine shoots. Gary Anderson was running the '03 match, and I got him to let me shoot my Nat'l Match '03 over the course (they were not legal at the time) ... he "X'd" out my score sheet so it didn't contend, but firing the old girl again, 75 years later was a real thrill. Though I 'saved' two rounds with a fumbled reload in sitting rapid, I still qualified for the 'silver' medal (top 10%) in the match. The day prior, at "sight-in" day, I scored a 92 at 600 with it on Rodriguez using the tiny peep on the ladder sight. This was with 1968 vintage M-72 National Match ammunition.

So here's the piece. I've got the program for the '31 matches, and the rifle came with the original O'Hare sight protectors and micrometer elevation tool. Love the red logwood finish on it, the smooth bolt throw and of course, the Star gauge punch on the muzzle crown. I continue to shoot it occasionally, & 90% of the time with a cast bullet load I developed. It's still far more accurate than I can hold. If my math is right, she's 16 yrs older than I am...
Best Regards, Rod

​

Beautiful rifle!

I'd settle for above-average groups with this one- my 03A3 is the one I'd grab for any serious match work anyway. Even with the 2-groove barrel, its basically a magic bullet wand.

I really just love the look of the early guns and wanted another since I sold my last low-number (400K series). This one is as mixed as they come, being almost all Remington parts except for the receiver, so I dont feel bad with some repro bits on it, lol.
I did break down and order a USMC "B" blade and shroud for this one, though, since I'm going to have the front sight base off anyway to try and get the correct upper band on. Worst case, Ill leave this band in place and get a 1917 bayonet.

Now, the real dilemma is that I have pretty much everything I need to put my M1922 in a full stock. Ive seen a handful of them online and LOVE they looks, but obviously it would be rolling the dice accuracy-wise and that gun is already a tackdriver.....

These are good problems to have, I suppose.