Springfield 1903 , Range Trip

[Ben]

About a month ago, I finished my stock work ( glass bedding, shaping, free floating, and final finishing ) on my friend Jason's Springfield 1903 Springfield, 308 Win. See Jason in the photo below.

His rifle has an original front sight and a Lyman 48 rear sight.

He can shoot it, as you'll see below ! !

Needless to say, " He is a a VERY happy camper with the finished product ! "

Ben





THIS BLACK AIMING SQUARE IS 1.25 " x 1.25" .

 

[smokeywolf]

Those results speak for themselves.

Going to put a scope on it?

 

[Ben]

No, there won't be a scope on this one.
He has always liked the looks of an NRA Sporter.
My job was to make a " Clone " for him by taking photos of old NRA Sporters
and trying to duplicate the many features of the rifle and coloration of the wood.
Jason is very good with metallic sights. He loves US Military rifles.

Here is an original NRA Sporter :

 

[Ben]

This is what I ended up with as a " Clone " of an NRA Sporter for Jason : ( By the way, a real genuine Springfield NRA Sporter can cost as much as $3,000.00 )

His is missing the fore arm barrel band, that will be another $250, if he can find one ? ?

 

[kenneth]

good work. and a wonderful gun. nice shooting!

 

[Ben]

Thanks Kenneth,

Ben

 

[35 shooter]

I see if someone tags along with you or Jason to the range...they need to bring their A-Game for sure!
Nice looking rifle and very good shooting.

 

[JWFilips]

Beautiful Rifle!

 

[fiver]

yo might be able to facsimile a front band from a krag or an argie rifle.
they look super similar and a little 'final fitting' could make it really look genuine.

 

[Ben]

Yes, I've mentioned that very thing to Jason.
We may have to find a good metal smith that is good at micro-welding.

Ben

 

[Brad]

Nice looking rifle Ben. Looks like the rifle, and your friend, can shoot well too.

 

[Ben]

Jason shot many different loads in the rifle this afternoon , the good news is all shot VERY well.

Ben

 

[quicksylver]

Nice looking piece Ben.

Found these on Flea bay a couple of months back.

Newbees got into about five gunsmith shops that were closing but had no idea what they had.

Got the two for just under $100.00, the band also came with the swivel and screw, I have them on another gun right now.

Notice the lack of a trap door in the butt plate.

Got the Lyman 17 front sight as well.

M2 stuff.

 

[quicksylver]

Boy oh boy photo to follow.

 

[quicksylver]

 

[Ben]

VERY VERY nice ! !

Ben

 

[fiver]

I don't think those have ever been used.
nice.

 

[Pistolero]

Excellent job, as usual, Ben. From your comments I assume that this is a modern style
bedding job, with action and probably an inch or two of the barrel glass bedded and the
barrel free floated? Obviously, what ever it is, it works. Did you make the stock?

I have an old sporterized Springfield in a Fajen stock, a very nice 1940s or 50s home
sporterization by a fairly good craftsman. I picked it up really inexpensively, recrowned
the barrel, glass bedded and free floated it and it is a nice shooting rifle. Not any kind
of a clone of the NRA Sporters, but a good rifle in it's own way. Certainly the raw
material, the US Springfield rifle is a really great place to start.

Bill

 

[quicksylver]

Ben the mid band might be a little costly ,BUT one of these can be found for $200.00 less than the band and would really help
with iron sight shooting.

Notice the one on the right, it is for the M2 (.22 cal) the base is much shorter.

I was (am) going to try it on one of my 03's to see if I can get more elevation for 100 yd PB shooting.

 

[Ben]

Excellent job, as usual, Ben. From your comments I assume that this is a modern style
bedding job, with action and probably an inch or two of the barrel glass bedded and the
barrel free floated? Obviously, what ever it is, it works. Did you make the stock?

I have an old sporterized Springfield in a Fajen stock, a very nice 1940s or 50s home
sporterization by a fairly good craftsman. I picked it up really inexpensively, recrowned
the barrel, glass bedded and free floated it and it is a nice shooting rifle. Not any kind
of a clone of the NRA Sporters, but a good rifle in it's own way. Certainly the raw
material, the US Springfield rifle is a really great place to start.

Bill

Bill,

I made the stock and I bedded it.
2" of the barrel in front of the receiver is bedded. The remainder of the barrel is
free floated.

This 1st photo shows me about to " bury " the internal cross bolt into the Acra - Glass.



Here the bedding job is completed and I'm about to reassemble the rifle.