Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 03A3 safety?

I need an aftermarket safety for the old Springfield 03A3, one that will work easily with a low mounted scope and locks the bolt down when on safe. Do any of you know if the Timney triggers with the side mounted safety locks the bolt? I would call them, but web site says closed do to virus.

The old stock military trigger has served us well over the years, but now that the rifle is a 338-06 and I gifted it to a grandson I want a reliable safety on it for him.

This is not as simple as it seems. I just spent some time researching this. The answer is "it's supposed to, but sometimes it doesn't."
What got me started searching was that I just got a couple of my own Springfields rebored by JES, one to 338-06 and one to 9.3x62. I'd never used either of them before sending them for rebore, just picked up the sporterized rifles with horrid bores over the years as smoking deals at gun shows. The 9.3 has an original Buehler and the 338 has a Mark II.
My 9.3 displays an apparently fairly common problem with the Buehlers - when the rifle is cocked and the safety is "ON", if the bolt handle is lifted up, not only does the lock fail to hold the bolt closed, but the safety goes to the "OFF" position when the bolt handle is raised. In researching this online, I found some users whose Buehlers effectively locked the bolt, some for whom it kind of locks it unless the bolt handle is hit pretty hard, and some who like me, have one that slips off with just normal bolt handle lift.
If you look closely at an installed Buehler on the Springfield shroud, and how it meshes with the bolt locking notch on the rear of the bolt body, it is apparent that there is just a tiny window of engagement that separates the three effects described above.
I scored a NIB original Buehler Springfield safety on eBay and am going to try a couple options. I'll try the new safety and see if it works the same. I really don't want to change out the bolt of course (headspace) but I may try changing out the striker. If it does not work, I'll just user the Wisner side swing safety and do the milling to install it.

The Mark II safety on the 338-06 locks the bolt pretty firmly and won't let go no matter how hard I hit the bolt handle. Maybe others can chime in with their experiences with this one. I have an extra '03 shroud with one of those installed and that's another option for my 9.3.

Also, this thread might get you better responses on the gunsmithing forum (s).

Post what you learn back here though, for everyone's learning.

Cheers,
Rex

I used this old Springfield from 1965 to 1969 when I shipped out for the war. I shot my first moose and caribou with it when I was 15 on the same day and dumped a few other critters with it. Never had a usable safety with the scope and I never missed it, just carried an empty chamber. As the years went by a nephew took it over and neglected it and the bore was ruined y never cleaning it after shooting WWII tracer ammo. I bought it back from my brother after the nephew died a I knew it would be sold in a garage sale.

I sent it to Jess and he turned it into a 338-06 and I put a Boyd's stock on it. Now that I gave it to my manly 16 year old grandson I will feel better if he has a good reliable safety on it. Options are few and reliable info is sparse.

The first range trip showed promise, we got moose to kill.

Thanks for your time.

I used this old Springfield from 1965 to 1969 when I shipped out for the war. I shot my first moose and caribou with it when I was 15 on the same day and dumped a few other critters with it. Never had a usable safety with the scope and I never missed it, just carried an empty chamber. As the years went by a nephew took it over and neglected it and the bore was ruined by never cleaning it after shooting WWII tracer ammo. I bought it back from my brother after the nephew died a I knew it would be sold in a garage sale.

I sent it to Jess and he turned it into a 338-06 and I put a Boyd's stock on it. Now that I gave it to my manly 16 year old grandson I will feel better if he has a good reliable safety on it. Options are few and reliable info is sparse.

The first range trip showed promise, we got moose to kill.

Thanks for your time.

I have a timney, I had to have a gunsmith install it.

If in doubt, send it to Jim Kobe. He did a side swing safety for an 03 for me a year or two ago and did an absolutely swell job.

So does it lock the bolt closed when in the safe position - even if you bump the bolt handle pretty well towards the open position?
This is the OP's question.

Jim does a three position M70 - type safety for the Springfield, right?
This is a lot different than the Wisner to which I alluded.
What did Jim charge for the job?
Thanks,
Rex

Good question. I can’t remember 😆. The next time I get back I will check (5 hours away).

You would have to ask him that. I provided the safety and bolt sleeve, and I know not if what he charged me was his regular fee. The charges were quite reasonable in my estimation.

Timney is your friend. Get the one with the side safety. Either that or get a Timney and a Beuler Safety. That's a gun smith proposition but it will be a first class set up and safe if you have a competent gun smith.

There shouldn't be a gunsmith required to install the Timney/Buehler.

Timney is your friend. Get the one with the side safety. Either that or get a Timney and a Beuler Safety. That's a gun smith proposition but it will be a first class set up and safe if you have a competent gun smith.[/quote]

So do you have a Timney safety on a Springfield and does it lock the bolt close in the ON position?

I got this safety on Ebay for $14. Got the smith to install it when he did the bolt handle. This gun has a pristine '42 vintage barrel and shoots nearly MOA. I gifted it to my hunting bud after he was talking about wanting a Springfield. He loves this gun, named it Dusty Springfield after the singer. That sorta dates him.

I loaded 130 gr. Horn SP's over 59 gr. Big Game at 3,100 fps and he killed a bunch of stuff last season, mostly DRT. Gun has a 40 yr old Timney, now wears his Leupold glass, not this Bushnell.

DF

That looks like a Mark II safety. And, to try to help out the OP -
Does it lock the bolt solidly when in the SAFE position?

Talked to Jim Kobe today and rifle goes out to him tomorrow for a two position wing safety that locks the bolt down. He said he would have it done before the August 1st draw permit my two grandsons got for caribou this early fall. That permit is a one time deal.

One Springfield 338-06 and one Tikka 6.5 Creed, hoping the old Springfield 03A3 makes another gut pile this fall, it has been awhile. It is good griz country with a liberal season and I hope we bump one. I will back them up with my peep sighted .348 Ackley Improved and some Kodiak 250 grain bonded bullets, heck ya!

What is Jim charging you for that install? Is this the safety he's putting in?

Wisner side swing safety

Glad you found your solution.

Yes, locks the bolt.

DF

Here it is on an FN.

DF

Timney version on another FN.

DF