List. (limited). (limited).Production historyDesignerDesigned1903 ( 1903)Produced1903 ( 1903)–1949 ( 1949)No. built3,004,079VariantsSeeSpecificationsMass8.7 lb (3.9 kg)Length43.2 in (1,100 mm)length24 in (610 mm);10–15 rounds/min2,800 ft/s (850 m/s)Effective firing range1,100 yards (1,000 m) Maximum firing range5,500 yards (5,000 m) with.30 M1 Ball cartridgeFeed system5-round, 25-round (Air Service Variant) InternalSightsFlip-up rear sight graduated to 2,700 yards (2,500 m), blade post-type front sight.M1903A3: Aperture rear sight, blade type front sight.type. M1903 Springfield with loading clipsThe M1903 Springfield, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber.30-06, Model 1903, is an American five-round fed, used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 19, 1903, and saw service in.
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Serial number ranges for the production years of M1903 Springfield, including Springfield Armory, Rock Island Arsenal, Remington, and Smith-Corona production. US Model 1903 Springfield Rifle Serial Number Ranges - Muzzle First. Search this site Go to content.
It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing eight-round starting in 1936. However, the M1903 Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle during, since the U.S. Entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops.
It also remained in service as a during World War II, the, and even in the early stages of the. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, historical collector's piece, a competitive shooting rifle, and as a military drill rifle. The outfitted to the M1903 allows it to fire.30 calibre pistol-grade cartridges in semi-automatic fire mode.By the time of U.S. Entry into, 843,239 of these rifles had been produced at. Pre-war production utilized questionable metallurgy.
Some receivers constructed of single-heat-treated case-hardened steel were improperly subjected to excessive temperatures during the forging process. The carbon could be 'burnt' out of the steel producing a brittle receiver. Despite documented evidence indicating some early rifles were improperly forged, actual cases of failure were very rare. Although several cases of serious injury from receiver failure were documented, the U.S. Army never reported any fatalities. Many failures were attributed to use of incorrect cartridges, such as the. Evidence also seems to suggest that improperly forged brass cartridge cases could have exacerbated receiver failure.were installed in December 1917 to accurately measure temperatures during the forging process.
The change was made at approximately serial number 800,000 for rifles made at Springfield Armory and at serial number 285,507 at Rock Island Arsenal. Lower serial numbers are known as 'low-number' M1903 rifles.
Higher serial numbers are said to be 'double-heat-treated.' Toward the end of the war, Springfield turned out the Model 1903 Mark I.
The Mark I has a cut on the left hand side of the receiver meant to act as an ejection port for the, a modified sear and cutoff to operate the Pedersen Device; a specialized insert that replaced the bolt and allowed the user to fire.30 caliber pistol cartridges semi-automatically from a 40-round detachable magazine. The stock was also slightly cut down on the left side to clear the ejection port. In all other respects, the Mark I is identical to the 1903.
Temperature control during forging was improved prior to Mark I production. The receiver alloy was toughened by addition of nickel after Mark I production.In 1926, after experiencing the effect of long-range German Mauser and machine gun fire during the war, the U.S. Army adopted the heavy 174-grain boat-tail bullet for its.30-06 cartridge, standardized as 'Cartridge, Ball, caliber 30, M1'. M1 ammunition, intended primarily for long-range machine gun use, soon became known by Army rifle competition teams and expert riflemen for its considerably greater accuracy over that of the M1906-round; the new M1 ammunition was issued to infantrymen with the Springfield rifle as well as to machine gun teams. However, during the late 1930s, it became apparent that, with the development of mortars, high-angle artillery, and the.50 caliber machine gun, the need for extreme long-range, rifle-caliber machine-gun fire was decreasing. In 1938, the U.S. Army reverted to a.30-06 cartridge with a 152-grain flat-base bullet, now termed, for all rifles and machine guns.In the 1920s and the 1930s, M1903s were delivered to US allies in, such as,.
Costa Rica troops were equipped with Springfields during the and some rifles were captured by the opposing Panamanians. The Cuban Springfields will be used by forces after WW2 and later by the, for instance during the.The acquired some M1903 rifles configured like Sporter Models in response to the 1933.In service, the Springfield was generally prized for its reliability and accuracy, though some problems remained. The precision rear aperture sight was located too far from the eye for efficient use, and the narrow, unprotected front sight was both difficult to see in poor light and easily damaged. Marine Corps issued the Springfield with a sight hood to protect the front sight, along with a thicker front blade. The two-piece firing pin/striker also proved to be no improvement over the original one-piece Mauser design, and was a cause of numerous Ordnance repairs, along with occasional reports of jammed magazine followers. Camouflaged M1903 Springfield sniper's rifle with Warner & Swasey, in France, May 1918. World War II saw new production of the Springfield at private manufacturers such as the and Typewriter companies.
Remington began production of the M1903 in September 1941, at serial number 3,000,000, using old tooling from the which had been in storage since 1919. The very early rifles are almost indistinguishable from 1919-made Rock Island rifles. As the already worn tooling began to wear beyond use Remington began seeking Army approval for a continuously increasing number of changes and simplifications to both speed up manufacture and improve performance. The milled parts on the Remington M1903 were gradually replaced with stamped parts until, at about serial number 3,330,000, the Army and Remington recognized that a new model name was appropriate. Other features of the M1903, such as high-grade walnut stocks with finger grooves, were replaced with less expensive but serviceable substitutes.
Most milled parts made by Remington were marked with an 'R'.M1903 production was discontinued in favor of the M1903A3. The most noticeable visual difference in the M1903A3 was the replacement of the barrel-mounted rear sight with a smaller, simpler aperture rear sight mounted on the rear of the receiver; it was primarily adopted in order to speed familiarization by soldiers already trained on the M1 Garand, which had a similar sighting system. However, the leaf spring providing tension to the elevation adjustment on the new aperture sight tended to weaken with continued use over time, causing the rifle to lose its preset range elevation setting.
Other modifications included a new stamped cartridge follower; ironically, the rounded edges of the new design largely alleviated the 'fourth-round jam' complaints of the earlier machined part. All stock furniture was also redesigned in stamped metal.In late 1942, Smith-Corona Typewriter Company also began production of the M1903A3 at its plant in Syracuse, NY.
Smith/Corona parts are mostly identified by the absence of markings. Except for occasions when time permitting during manufacture, on early to mid production rifles, and also only on certain parts.Smith/Corona bolts are sometimes marked with an 'X' on top of the bolt handle root, which appears as a simple two-line 'X'. The underside of the bolt handle root, will also be marked with a inspectors inspection number, and a punch marking from the hardness testing. This 'X' markings is often misidentified as the 'H' marking, that is found on field replacement bolts produced by Hadley Tool co. The 'H' marking is easily identified by its use of a cursive bubble script.
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Which appears to be a X at a glance, but is easily distinguishable from the Smith Corona 'X', when compared to one another. Due to the Smith Corona 'X' being a simple two-line X, often referred to as the 'crossed twigs' Front sight bases are also found to be occasionally marked with a 'G' on the side between the two pin holes used for mounting the base to the barrel, and to affix the sight blade. This 'G' mark may also be found on the bolt/safety shroud, but hidden on an assembled bolt. This is due to it being stamped on the inner face of the shroud facing the striker/firing pin assembly, as to be hidden on an assembled bolt. The shroud is also identified by a scalloped cut on top, but this does not absolutely identify the shroud as a Smith Corona part. One must remember the machines and plans were obtained by other manufacturers after Smith Corona and ended WW2 production.
This was to be done to manufacture replacement parts at the end of and post WW2. As such, these manufacturers used the designs as completed by Smith Corona. As expected shrouds and other parts will look nearly identical to Smith Corona original parts, but bear other markings. Such as, 'BP' marked shrouds, 'CC' marked bolt bodies, and other parts manufactured using the Smith Corona designs. The only 'S' marking, that might be found, is found on the extractor. This marking is located on the down-facing side, when mounted on the bolt, in the same area as the dovetailed mounting point underneath the extractor when mounted. Smith Corona buttplates, are only marked by the design of the stamped checkering, which will be 9 to 10 lines per inch.
As opposed to a WW2 Remington or replacement stamped 1903a3 buttplate, which consist of 16 or more lines per inch. The stamped trigger guard, is found both with the 'small early' and 'large mid to late' trigger bow. A Smith Corona part, however, is identified by the reinforcement stamping line directly behind the forward most action screws (sometimes referred to as the king screw).
The stamped reinforcement line behind the forward screw, is shaped in a U or semicircle surrounding the rear portion of the screw. As opposed to a Remington manufactured parts straight line stamping in the same location. Rear adjustable sights appear to be of near-identical design, except for finish and the lack of identifying marks on the base or the sight itself. The rear sight has been observed being removed from original sealed WW2 packaging, and in time period photos, as to having two external finish types.
Photos show very early production rear sights being completely finished in a hot caustic bluing. All other confirmed original rear sights, have been noted to have a grey phosphate finished base, and the sight itself being blued. Smith Corona rifle stocks in as new original non-rearsenaled condition, lacking a Depot or arsenal stamp with only a single circle P proof, have all been noted to have certain original as manufactured markings or proofs. The left side of the stock, on the wrist area, are marked with a boxed-in FJA inspector stamp followed by the crossed cannon arsenal stamp.
The order of the stamps are reversed from Remington production stocks, and lack the RA marking (Remington Arms) preceding the other markings. Just forward of the trigger guard on the underside of the stock, are 4 inspection numbers encased in differing shapes.
There may be more present, if the stock or rifle has been reworked in the past, but originally there was to be 4 inspection processes marked here. Numbers differing by inspector, the shapes they are enclosed in have been observed to the same on each original example in the same position. Left to right, top to bottom, they are as follows. Top left, number in a triangle, top right, number in a circle, bottom left, number in a square, and unique to Smith Corona stocks, bottom right, number in a diamond. Just behind the bow of the trigger guard is the P proof, that is usually present on US arms of this period and before on the bottom of the stock wrist grip.
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Unique to the Smith Corona, is the larger size of this proof of 7/16, when compared to a noticeably smaller Remington proof. The inlet cut for the Smith Corona stocks band spring, just forward of the rear stock band, is also of a unique rounded corners design as opposed to Remington's squared corners appearance.
To speed production output, two-groove rifled barrels were adopted, and steel alloy specifications were relaxed under 'War Emergency Steel' criteria for both rifle actions and barrels. M1903A3 rifles with two-groove 'war emergency' barrels were shipped with a printed notation stating that the reduction in rifling grooves did not affect accuracy. As the war progressed, various machining and finishing operations were eliminated on the M1903A3 in order to increase production levels.Original production rifles at Remington and Smith-Corona had a dark gray/black finish similar to the bluing of late World War I. Beginning in late 1943 a lighter gray/green parkerizing finish was used. This later finish was also used on arsenal repaired weapons.It is somewhat unusual to find a World War I or early World War II M1903 with its original dated barrel.
Much, if not all, World War II.30-06 ammunition used a corrosive primer which left corrosive salts in the barrel. If not removed by frequent and proper barrel cleaning these residues could cause pitting and excessive wear. In the jungle fighting on various Pacific islands cleaning was sometimes lax and the excessive moisture compounded the corrosive action of the residue.The M1903 and the M1903A3 rifle were used in combat alongside the M1 Garand by the U.S. Military during World War II and saw extensive use and action in the hands of U.S. Troops in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific. The were initially armed with M1903 rifles in early battles in the Pacific, such as the, but the jungle battle environment generally favored self-loading rifles; later Army units arriving to the island were armed with the M1 Garand.
The were also a major user of the M1903 and the M1903A3 during World War II with the Springfield being preferred over the M1 Garand for certain commando missions.According to Bruce Canfield's encyclopedic U.S. Infantry Weapons of WW II, final variants of the M1903 (the A3 and A4) were delivered in February 1944. By then, most American combat troops had been re-equipped with the M1 Garand. However, some front-line infantry units in both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps retained M1903s as infantry rifles beyond that date and continued to use them alongside the M1 Garand until the end of the Second World War in 1945. The Springfield remained in service for (using the M1903A4), (using a spigot type rifle ), and Marine units.Sniper rifle The M1903A4 was the U.S. Army's sniper rifle of choice during the Second World War.
The M1903A4 was a variation of the M1903A3. The only difference between receivers was that the model and serial number on the receiver were split on 1903A4 to make room for the Redfield scope mount. The Redfield scope mount removed the rear peep sight that was standard on the M1903A3. The scope used on the M1903A4 was a Weaver Model 330 or 330C, which was a 2.75x telescopic sight. The receivers were tested by Remington Arms and those that were deemed best, meaning those closest to design specifications were selected to become M1903A4's.
The barrels were also selected specifically to be added to the M1903A4 rifle only if they were within almost exact specifications for the design. The front sight on the barrel was never installed on the A4 barrels, however, the notch for it was still in place. Barrel specifications were, in general, unchanged between the M1903A3 and M1903A4, however, the War Department did start installing barrels with 2 groove rifling instead of 4 groove, despite the lack of clear changes from the 4 groove rifling that was the standard up until 1942.By some accounts, the M1903A4 was inadequate as a sniper rifle. The M1903A4 was a relatively accurate rifle with an effective range of about 600 yards (550m). These limitations on long-range targeting were due to the limited field of view present in both the M73 and M73B1 scopes.
From its adoption in 1943 until the end of the war it was used extensively in every theater of operation by both the US Army and the USMC. The Weaver scopes (later standardized as the M73 and M73B1) were not only low-powered in magnification, they were not waterproofed, and frequently fogged over or became waterlogged during humidity changes.
In addition, the M81/82 optional scopes also had significant flaws. They most notably had less power (2.2x vs. 2.75x) and, like the other scopes on the M1903A4, had serious issues with the field of view. Foreign users The U.S.
Army Military Police (MP) and the U.S. Navy Shore Patrol also used M1903s and M1903A3s throughout the war. Allies and friendly irregular forces were also equipped with the weapon. The (FEB), operating in the 5th Army in Italy was equipped with Springfield M1903 rifles. In August 1943, the of General were re-equipped by the United States primarily with M1903A3 Springfield.
The M1903A3 became one of the primary rifles used by French forces until the end of the war, and was afterwards used in and by local militia and security forces in French. Large numbers of M1903 Springfields were sent to China.During the korean war,South korean marines used M1903A3. South Korean marine armed with M1903 rifle, September 20, 1950.Springfield M1903 rifles captured by the Germans were designated Gewehr 249(a).
Post Korean War service After the Korean War, active service (as opposed to drill) use of the M1903 was rare. Still, some M1903A4s remained in sniper use as late as the Vietnam War; and technical manuals for them were printed as late as 1970. Navy also continued to carry some stocks of M1903A3s on board ships, for use as anti-mine rifles.Today. M1903 Springfield used during a vintage sniper rifle match in 2012Due to its balance, it is still popular with various military drill teams and color guards, most notably the U.S.
Army Drill Team. M1903 rifles (along with the M1 Garand, M1917 Enfield and M14 rifles) are also common at (JROTC) units to teach weapons handling and military drill procedures to the cadets. JROTC units use M1903s for regular and inter-school competition drills, including elaborate exhibition spinning routines. Exhibition teams often use fiberglass stocks in place of wooden stocks, which are heavier and more prone to breakage when dropped. JROTC Color Guards still favor wooden stocks over fiberglass because of their weight characteristics and appearance. The M1903 is also the standard parade rifle of the, which has over six hundred M1903s, a very small percentage of which are still fireable. The Summerall Guards of The Citadel South Carolina Corps of Cadets in Charleston, S.C.
Also use the Springfield 1903 model for their silent drill performances, which include annual trips to, as well as many other notable performances.Contemporary hunters and shooting enthusiasts value the rifle for its beauty, dependability, and adaptability for almost all U.S. Game animals. With proper gunsmithing, the M1903 makes a reasonably priced sporting rifle, comparing favorably with many modern firearms. color guard rifles bear many similarities to the Springfield.For safety reasons, JROTC M1903s are made permanently unable to fire by plugging the barrel with a steel rod, or having it filled with lead, soldering the bolt and welding the magazine cutoff switch in the ON position. To plug the barrel, a very cold steel rod is inserted; after it warms up it is too tight to remove.In 1977, the Army located a rather large cache of unissued M1903A3 rifles which were then issued to JROTC units as a replacement for their previously issued and rifles, which were then returned to Army custody due to concerns about potential break-ins at high school JROTC armories.Specifications. Diagram of the.30 Springfield RifleThe U.S.
Rifle, Model of 1903 was 44⅞ inches (1.098 m) long and weighed 8 11 oz (3.95 kg). A bayonet could be attached; the blade was 16 in (406 mm) long and weighed 1 lb (0.45 kg). From 1906, the rifle was chambered to fire the.30- M1906 (.30-06 cartridge), later the M1 (1926) and (1938) rounds. There were four standard types of cartridge:. Ball: consisted of a brass case or shell, primer, a charge of smokeless powder, and the bullet. The bullet had a sharp point called a, and was composed of a lead core and a jacket of (later gilding metal), and in the M1906 design, weighed 150 (9.7 g). The bullet of the M1906 cartridge, when fired from the rifle, had an initial velocity of 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s).
Blank: contained a paper cup instead of a bullet. It is dangerous up to 33 yd (30 m). Guard: had a smaller charge of powder than the ball cartridge, and five encircle the body of the shell at about the middle to distinguish it from ball cartridges. It was intended for use on guard or in riot duty, and it gave good results up to 200 yd (180 m). The range of 100 yd (91 m) required a sight elevation of 450 yd (410 m), and the range of 200 yd (180 m) required an elevation of 645 yd (590 m). Dummy: this was tin-plated and the shell was provided with six longitudinal corrugations and three circular holes.
The primer contains no percussion composition. It was intended for drill purposes to accustom the soldier to the operation of loading the rifle.The rifle was sighted for 2,500 yd (2,300 m) and had a point-blank range of 500 yd (460 m). The maximum range of the ball cartridge, when elevated at an angle of 45°, was 4,890 yd (4.47 km; 2.78 mi).The rifle was a magazine-fed clip-loader and could fire at a rate of 20 shots per minute. Each contained five cartridges, and standard issue consisted of 12 clips carried in a cloth bandoleer. When full the weighed about 3 lb 14 oz (1.8 kg). Bandoleers were packed 20 in a box, for a total of 1,200 rounds. The full box weighed 100 lb (45 kg).The bore of the rifle is 0.30 inches (7.62 mm) in diameter.
It was then rifled 0.004 in (0.1 mm) deep, making the diameter from the bottom of one groove to the bottom of the opposite groove 0.30787 in (7.82 mm) of the barrel.The 1903 rifle included a rear sight leaf that could be used to adjust for elevation. When the leaf was flat, the battle sight appeared on top.
This sight was set for 547 yd (500 m), and was not adjustable. When the leaf was raised it could be adjusted to a maximum extreme range of 2,850 yd (2,610 m). The rear sight could also be adjusted for windage.The 1903A3 rear sight was an aperture sight adjustable both for elevation and windage.A feature inherent to the M1903 and not found on the is the cocking piece, a conspicuous knob at the rear of the bolt, allowing the rifle's striker to be released without dry firing, or to cock the rifle if necessary, for example to attempt a second strike on a round that failed to fire.Variants There were four main variants given official nomenclature, though there are a number of important sub-variants.
M1903A4 with Type C stock and M84 sight. M1903 (1903): developed for the (also known as the.30-45).
Springfield 1903A1 rifle. M1903A1 (1929–1939): changed from a straight stock to a pistol grip type stock (Type C stock). The pistol grip stock was conducive to improved marksmanship and was fitted to National Match rifles until World War II.
Pistol grip stocks became standard for later M1903 production and were subsequently fitted to older rifles.
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