I'm interested in knowing if any marksmen in here, have any experance useing the 30-06 (03-A3) I've started seting one up, I've scoped it with a 6x24x42 tactical scope (mil dot). I'm hand loading using rem cases, Imr-4350 (56.5 gr) and 165 gr sierra (spitzer BT) I know that this is an old military rifle but it is in great shape with an excellent bore. I've had it on paper at 400 yrds. My question is: is this rifle model worth working into a sniping rifle or am I just spinning my wheels? Trigger pull is a little heavy and I would like to replace or fine tune if worth while. Don't think it is worth rebarreling, but the action does seem good and tight. This old bastard has been sitting in the gun cabinet along with a nice 6.5x55 swedish mauser that I'm also trying to figure out something to do with. I like the 6.5x55 cartridge but there's some gun smithing to do to scope the rifle with a regular scope. Any thoughts or recommendations would be great. moss

-- Moss (knivepoint@hotmail.com), February 18, 2003

Answers

Hey guys, i'm sorry that this isn't too relevant about the topic...but i was curious about the cheapest prices for 30-06 ammo that you've seen for a 1903 Springfield. If you could give me an answer or maybe a website that would be much appreciated. (The cheapest I've seen was 20 rnds for $5.95). Thankyou much!

-- Danny Reed (LittleKirby93@hotmail.com), June 15, 2004.

As luck would have it I have both rifles. The 06 I've had for 35 years and have modified it over the years so the cost hasn't seemd as much as it really is. I just purchased an ammo can of Lake City '54.AP. I pulled the bullets and replased them with 168gr. Hornday btsp.they went into 3/4" @ 100 yards.This was at a bench with a 8x Weaver scope.Very cheap shooting. As for the Swed. I did a lot of work but not much gunsmithing. I turned it into a Manlicker using the issued stock. Had the barrel cut to 17.5" and recrowned. The scope was easy. I removed the ladder on the rear sight then ground an filed the steps off the base. this allowed me to use a long eyerelief scope with tall Weaver rings. This allowed the continued use of the issued and "Most reliable saftey" and also to be able to load using stripper clips. really whitled down the thickness of the stock and got it under 7lb. with scope, sling an 5 rdns. of ammo. With 120 gr. Sierra goes into an 1" at 100yards. Great woods rifle. Hope this helps. Cleve Jones.

-- Ross Cleve Jones,Sr. (CJFarm1968@aol.com), October 08, 2003.

i have a smith corona 03a3 that is customized with a shillen barrel and a timney trigger and was fitted w/a bishop stock and it is capable sub 1 inch groups at 100 yds using a bench rest and factory ammo.my advice would be to install a new trigger and see what it will do.you can always change out the barrel if the accuracy is not good enough for you.you probably would need to consider a custom stock also lot of luck to you ps im loking for a colt army special in 38 special caliber

-- warren (wtibbetts@bellsouth.net), September 26, 2003.

i have a remington 1903a3 rifle for about 5 years at 400m i can put in a one inch dot but it has been customized sith a simmions scope and i won't take any thing for it

-- chris bennett (chrisb308@ yahoo.com), June 08, 2003.

hate to open a can of worms. there are plenty of shooters ehre and snipers too fromt he looks of it, keep in mind that I have socks older than most of them so I'm out of the loop on the new way to do things.

my staff is army rangers ( the A Shau kind), marine snipers ( nam) and current army snipers among others.

my background in sniping ends around 1972. So I fdeel right at home with that old rifle of yours. I shoot a pre-64 M70, it ahs a heavy trigger, non adjustable, and to be honest sniping is not benchrest. a 6ppc with a few ounce trigger is unsuitable, or was, for sniping. bottom line is if she prints good and is stable then build it into the long range gun of your dreams.

the 6.5x55 swedish is my other rifle, I carry the 30-06 as a back up gun for clinets, I hunt myslef withn the 6.5.

excellent round and light recoil. what to do with it? if it has a good bore and prints well then scope it and hunt it, or use for mid range shooting, say 400 m and in. It is an outstanding performer under 300 m on darn near anything.

feel free to email me, we are always happy to yak guns,hunting,and shooting, not so much sniping and what it was like in country.

my 2 cents

-- Robert Weber, master guide (info@guidesforhire.com), June 01, 2003.

About the Swedish Mauser, you could try

http://pub109.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm33

-- Rick (soi10@hotmail.com), March 06, 2003.

still looking for an answear here. maybe if there's know one with any knowledge about this weapon, maybe someone knows where I can get an answear?

thanks moss

-- - -moss (knivepoint@hotmail.com), March 03, 2003.