Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 1903 based sporters - how many shoot one?

The WWII generation built a lot of hunting rifle off 1903 Springfields and K98 Mausers. I love them, but saw lots of them in the 1960s. I wondered how many of you also shoot one. Did you inherit it or buy it, build it or rework a sporter someone else started?

I have two of them. One is a springfield and other a Smith corona. One is a BR. rifle with 1 1/2" dia barrel chambered in 243 the other is a 270 with fancy stock..

I admit to having a few.

i have three , a sedgley sporter, a german guild style 1903 & a target rifle project that i'm still collecting the parts for.
i got the sedgley from a pawnshop & the german style 1903 from gb.
the target rifle i'm building myself. it will have a 28" pac-nor 6.5x55ai barrel, richards marksman stock & a set of redfield olympic sights

03s or 03a3? I have a 300 savage on an 03. I think I have 3 o3a3s.

I bought an unfired Remington made 1903 from the DCM when I was in college in the 1960s. As I recall, it cost $19 and was delivered to my door. I shot it a little bit with the issue sights, then put it away for a couple of years. Got it out again when I laid out of school for a year and a half and used it to shoot high power with a local rifle club.

After that, I hauled it around for about thirty years, then decided to have it sporterized. It was an '06 sporter for a while, but I had pre-64 Model 70 '06s that I did not want to alter (they were featherweights, anyway), and I needed a .338 Win Mag. It was rebarreled and put into a Rimrock stock. With a 3-9x Leupold in Buehler mounts, it is one of my favorite elk rifles. Wish I could find another Remington action...

My pet project
1903A3 Remington Springfield
Original Barrel rechamberd to .300 Win. Mag. but will be switching to a wildcat the .270 Win. Mag. or possibly .264 Win. Mag.in the not too distand future. Just have to decide which, and thats the tough part.
Buehler type safety
Original two stage trigger has been slicked up slighty.....very long pull still but breaks at 3 lbs.
Stock is decently grained walnut.I am not sure of the maker as it was on the rifle when I got it. I made the tip and grip cap. They are both birdseye maple. I am happy with the tip but the grip cap still isn't right, needs more blending into the lines of the stock.
Old Weaver rings and bases with an El Paso Weaver k2.5
When I got the gun it was a half done project. The safety, bolt , and rechamber had been done. The stock was unfinshed and not all the way smoothed out and had no tip or cap, the trigger was stock G.I., and the receiver had been drilled and tapped. So I did everything else to finish it off. The G.I. barrel rechambered shoots pretty well, usually grouping 3 shots right around 3/4" at 100 yards. It doesn't shoot 150 grainers with anything but with 165s and 180s it really comes into its own.
Oh and the previous guy cut, ground, and polished the cocking peice. I will be going back to the original styled knurled type before I am through with it.

i think i've posted pictures of this one before.
you don't see one like this everyday.
butterknife bolt handle, double set triggers, express sights, barrel mounted sling swivel, claw mounts with a hendsoldt wetzlar dialytan 4x scope. the barrel is the original 30-06 military barrel.

I have a sporter SC 03A3, and an 03 Remington. Both were more or less "bubba'd" when I aquired them, but I changed all that. I'm currently finishing up the 03. It will very closely resemble a G&H from the 30's - 40's. They're great rifles.

Springfields are the only bolt actions I own. I just like 'em......warts and all.

35 Whelen....


7x57...


I also have a .280 and a couple 30-06's...

358 Norma Mag

Nice rifles! The 03 I'm finishing up could almost be the twin to your 7x57. We must have similar tastes when it come to classic rifles.

Thanks, Craigster.

I tried to incorporate as many Griffin & Howe elements in the design as was feasible with that semi-inlet. I don't think you can go wrong copying Seymour Griffin's stock design for a Springfield.

I just recently finished the 7x57, and haven't gotten around to checkering it yet. So far I'm pleased with the open sights. Mostly because my eyes can still handle them.

I used a G&H Classic-Open Sight semi inlet from GAG, early Lyman 57 rear sight and a Redfield hooded ramp front, also early style. What did you do with the bolt handles, anything? At this point mine is still mil-spec. Not sure what I'm gonna do with it, if any thing. Thanks.

Craig

Mine was a rather clubby semi my brother purchased off ebay. However, it did have enough wood to do what I wanted.






Mine has a Lyman 48, and a Ruger banded ramp (a concession to a more period piece......but the Ruger is really inexpensive!)

Bolt handle is original. The 2-stage trigger has a Miller fixture that eliminates the first stage. Actually leaves a fairly nice trigger pull. Biesen checkered steel buttplate and Dressel grip cap.

I still shoot the one I got in military condition back in 1964 for about $30. I sporterized it, unfortunately, by putting on a scope and getting a Herter's stock.

Here are a few from my safe.

My most prized one done by Emil Koshollek of Wisconsin probably in the 20s.



A 1903 in 338 and a 1903A3 in 7X57.



Another 1903A3.



And lastly one that ISN'T mine but I wish it was. One of the nicest Springfields I have ever seen.

Have the following all in 06, built by the Makers, probably between the Wars [30's-40's].

R.G. Owens, Sauquoit,N.Y.;trap buttplate,grip cap., 2 3/4 Zeiss Dialyt on G&H side mt., Lyman receiver, hooded front ramp with flip-up white bead, bbl. band swivel.

G&H, Lyman Alaskan 2 3/4 on G&H side mt., 1/4 rib with parade of 3 flip up blades, Lyman receiver, front hooded ramp. bbl. band swivel.

Hoffman, Ardmore,Ok., Lyman receiver, hooded front ramp, bbl. band swivel.

Sedgley, Phila. Lyman receiver, front ramp.

Interesting,all of these use Win. Supergrade swivels on custom stock studs, with front bbl. bands.

Woodchuck

Craigster

who is GAG for the semi -inletted stock?

Woodchuck....

That's an enviable collection of Springfields!

Owens, G&H, Hoffman, and Sedgley is an admirable group of early American customs!

I have an Alvin Linden Springfield of similar vintage. Treasures all...