Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Springfield 03-A3 6.5-06

I bought a Remington-built 03-A3 on the Nosler site a few years ago as the basis for a custom. This past Friday I pick up the finished product from the smith on the way up to trout camp.

After I bought the action the first thing I did was buy a milled bottom metal/trigger guard. I had it sent to my guy who does beautiful work contouring trigger guards. Next I picked up a 24"#1-contoured 9" twisted Belgian made barrel short chambered to 6.5-06 on GB. I had the old military safety replaced with a chapman 2-position model-70 style safety, added a Timney Sportsman, and had a set of S&K Kontoured bases custom fit. Finally, I picked up a stunning curly maple Monte Carlo In the classifieds here.

I haven't mounted glass yet but here are pics of the finished product:













I have a Meopta 6x42mm w/ ballistic #4 I am gonna mount on it. For load work up I'm planning to start with 120 GMXs, 123 AMaxes, & 140 NBTs.

Excited to see how she shoots!!

What's that sucker weigh without a scope? I love it but it looks like it would be a bugger to lug up the mountains elk hunting!

Eric's a big boy, hauling that beauty around wouldn't phase him a bit. Now, if it was ugly, well.....

A little weight is nice when taking long shots, helps settle things down. But I don't think that rifle is all that heavy.

Sweet rig!

Wow what a beauty!!!!!

Looks great buddy. I dig the maple. Cool cartridge too.

I always liked a Springfield over a Mauser.

Sweet looking rifle!!

Very nice! I am not a fan of wood stocks that aren't walnut, but that one does look good on that rifle.

Thanks for the compliments guys I like it a lot as well, and while I've done many more Mausers than I have Springfields I have a certain affinity for them as well. I've always wanted a maple stocked hunting rifle and when I saw this stock come up in the classifieds, in spite of having already purchased & refinished a very nice walnut specimen, I really felt like it went w/ this quite nicely.

Not sure what it weighs and with a Kimber 84M in the cabinet this won't make the list of lightweight rigs going backcountry hunting with me it definitely isn't as heavy as you might think. The light contoured barrel and less dense wood surprised me when I picked it up.

Not 100% sure I'll leave that Meopta on it... have been contemplating a VX3 3.5-10x 40mm plex cds for it but for now the Meopta will do.

I've got some 130 VLDs & Prvi 25-06 brass arriving Friday. I was going to neck the gay from some 270 cases or just neck down some of the tons of 30-06 I have lying around but decided I didn't want to have to trim or neck turn.

I'll let you guys know when I've had her to the range!

Thanks again!

Very very nice, but I can see a lot of wood that could come off of that stock to make it more streamlined and more customized.

That's a good looking Springfield! and I really dig the chambering.

Yeah I thought that also. The grip cap is tear-drop shaped which I don't care for and the angle of the grip itself is sharper than I like even in a monte carlo, but I'm just too anxious to get this thing shooting to mess w/ that right now. Maybe some time in the future when I finally have consummated our relationship in blood and maybe have become committed enough to even get her checkered... ?

Nice job on the Len Brownell style bolt handle!

Old school cool. Love the color contrast between the matte black and light colored wood. Very impressive.

Great looking rifle!! I know I have an 03-A3 hiding in the safe somewhere...

Thanks I like it also; Dave @ IT&D did it (he also installed & headspaced the barrel) but unfortunately the ITAR fee got him to quit so his value priced metal work is no longer available tho I've heard he is bluing.

Very nice, I always wanted a custom Springfield

I built a 6.5-06 in 2015, and it is my most successful long range rifle to date.

I called up Forster and went around and around until they sent me a 25-06 Full length sizer die body honed out to a 0.292" neck.
That would make it an ideal 6.5-06 sizer die body, for $57. [double the honing charge]
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I called up Lee and went around and around until they agreed to reduce a 270 mandrel from a collet neck die down to 0.262", but leave the top 1/4" alone to fit a 270 collar.
This will make it ideal for turning a 270 Lee collet neck die into a 6.5-06 die.
$20 plus shipping [quadruple the reduction charge]
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In each case they had to go talk to the machinist.
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I am necking down 30-06 brass.
270 brass necked down is too long for my 6.5-06 A Square reamer, and would have to be trimmed.
I could not get the Nos 142 gr long range to work, but the 120 gr Nos bal tip have averaged 0.92" 5 shots @100y
3.34" 120 gr nos bal tip moly 50.7 gr IMR-4166 3197 fps chrono 24" barrel 8" twist 5R #3 barrel

That's a beauty! Best of luck with it!

Thanks, Tom

I've got an 03 in 30-06. Love it! It was built by Paul Jaeger in 1945. I've had a few Mauser action rifle's over the years, all commercial. They didn't come close to my 03!