Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles 03A3 at 500 yards

I'm going to try my 03A3 at 500 yards. I've got to think loading to duplicate the original military issue M2 Ball ammo which I believe is a 150 gr. bullet at 2750 fps is the best way to start. If anyone's shooting their 03A3 at 500 yards are you using this load and does the original 500 yard sight setting work with it?

I've shot Springfields at long distances and will say the old Ball M2 load will work, isn't best but ok place to start. If I were to return to that pursuit I would step it up a notch and use a 165 boat tail for better performance even with a slight decrease in muzzle velocity. Moving out farther I would step it up more with even heavier/longer better BC bullets.

As to whether your sight settings will work, there's only one way to find out....

M2 ball - was closer to 2800 fps at the muzzle.

Regardless, you will still more than likely need to dope past 300 yards.





GR

Try the Sierra Palma Bullet 155 Grain, the part number is 2155.
IMR 4895, the very low end of what is recommended.

Works at 600 yards.

Thanks to all for the info. Great link Garandimal

Tried it this afternoon with 150 Speer Hot Cors and 46 gr of IMR 4895. Lyman 49th ed. starting point for this powder at 2680 fps with 150s. Ended up with the sights set for 600 yards. I had changed the front sight blade to the wider USMC blade which covered the 500 yard plate. Lined it up below the plate, moved it up till the top of the blade looked to be even with the top of the plate and got consistent, better than 90%, hits with minimal recoil. Doubt if the groups were too tight but I sure liked it.

I'll bet your swedish mauser does better.

My experience is similar to Gnoahh’s. I don’t have an as issued 03-A3 or a ‘03 anymore. There’s no local matches anymore either. If there were I’d use a M1 because I have.
Agree with everything Gnoahh said. But I doubt I’d ever shoot past 600 yards. So165/168 boat tail bullets would be my choice.

The rifle is certainly capable. I'm a cast bullet shooter and used to have an 03-A3 remington, 2 groove. A 5 gallon bucket at 500 yards was not safe.

You could be right about the Swede. I might have to go back to it's original 0 front sight but I'm going to try at 500 with a little hotter load and the taller +2 first. Don't want to take it off if I don't have to.

Somehow, the gun culture took WWII era ballistic data out of context.

The M2 ball Data was gathered at 78 ft. from the muzzle, and is posted in all the literature,
which equates to 2805 fps at the muzzle.

But, somehow, the 2740 fps figure has become dogma.


Type - - Weight - - Muzzle - 53' - - - 78' - - - Muzzle Energy
- - - - - Grains - - - fps - - - fps - - - fps - - - foot-pounds
.30-06 - 150.0 - - 2700 - - 2655 - - 2640 - - - 2429
.30 M1 - 174.5 - - 2647 - - 2620 - - 2600 - - - 2675
.30 M2 - 152.0 - - 2805 - - 2755 - - 2740 - - - 2656
.30 AP - 168.5 - - 2775 - - 2730 - - 2715 - - - 2780


The Army technical manual [TM 43-0001-27] describes M2 ball ammunition as being loaded with 50gr of IMR4895.
(although this is NOT current charge spec for that powder)




GR

Sound data.

I've always loaded 46gr. IMR4895 with 150's and 45 with 165-168's, for no other reason than it is a sweet spot accuracy-wise, at least in my experience. I've never been one to stretch an '06 into the 3000fps realm with such bullets, safety and performance notwithstanding I simply don't enjoy getting the snot beat out of me by something that's supposed to be fun!

Thanks again to all for the info. I'm having a good time shooting at 500 yards with the 03A3 and the 96 Swede, tried that one yesterday. Makes it even better when one of the younger shooters says WTF he's hitting that without a scope.

The forgotten Mk1 eyeball.

If you can see it, you can hit it, w/ an iron sighted battle rifle.




GR

Yes indeed.