Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 1903 question

What year, or years, did the Model 1903 transition from .22 Winchester Automatic to .22 LR ??
I know nothing of these and starting some basic research. Anything interesting about the gun or the obsolete .22 Winchester Automatic cartridge is appreciated.

I believe all of the 1903's are chambered for 22 auto. They are similar in appearance to the model 63 and some people have combined parts from the two models to make what might appear to be a 22lr model 1903 but I don't know if they actually work.

My Uncle converted one to 22 LR by changing the barrel and some other parts. It worked fine and my cousin still has it. I have known about it since I was 8 .

The '03 was produced until about '32. The 63 started production in '32'-33...from memory.

The '03 had a 20" BBL. The 63 came out with a 20" bbl. and when reviewed inthe Riflman , it was suggested a longer bbl. would have better balance.....then in '35-'36 ? the 23" BBl was fitted.

.22LR's were not all smokeless powder in '03, thus the proprietery .22 Winchester Automatic in smokeless.

It was a 45 GR lead bullet.Not interchangeable with .22 LR.

Ammo can still be had, Aquilla makes a run every once inna while. The last I bought was from J&G in Prescott....maybe 10-12 years ago.

My favorite .22 Semi. Have a few of both. The '03 has a straight grip stock and the 63 has a pistol grip stock.