This is so typical of the things I do that it's almost comical. Some of you may remember the sporterized 1903A3 Springfield that I recently found.



While it is a nice rifle, I decided I should "improve" it. Since someone had already drilled the receiver and installed a set of Lyman receiver aperture and globe target front sights, I realized that the Bubba work had already begun and I could do nothing to further degrade the value. So, I decided to construct an "Improved Bubba 1903A3 Springfield".

The plan was to spend "some" money on it, but not try to build a Guild quality rifle. I thought about rust bluing the metal, but decided that a working hunting rifle should be all business and offer a measure of simplicity, so I wouldn't worry too much if it got a few nicks and scratches. Still, I wanted a proper-looking rifle. Improvement costs could be offset by selling the Lyman 48C receiver sight (probably worth $125-150) and the front sight (maybe $25). That would mostly pay for a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm scope, which should be adequate. So, I disassembled the rifle, removed the sights and found what I expected - a nice Timney trigger:



The first decision was to leave the original parkerized finish on the receiver and barrel, then parkerize the nice 1903 (not A3) milled trigger guard and magazine floor plate.

A 1903A4-style sniper bolt handle had already been fitted to allow a scope to be installed, so that part was done, although the bolt and handle needed finishing - so I had the bolt handle parkerized, then polished the bolt barrel a little in preparation for jeweling if I later decide I want that look. If the rifle comes out like I hope, I may eventually bead-blast the receiver and barrel and re-parkerize everything.



After removing the front sight, I really wasn't happy with the barrel lug and even it it was removed, it would still leave the unfinished mounting area which is stepped:



A hacksaw took care of that problem in a few minutes:



For a quick and dirty barrel facing, I used a file and some sandpaper to polish, then very minimally crowned the barrel with a filed outside chamfer edge and for the muzzle, chucked a round-head brass bolt into a hand drill and lapped the bore edge with some polishing compound. If it doesn't group well like this, I can decide later if I want to put a military or target crown on it:



So, what to do for a stock? I really like a classic wood sport stock, but considered a synthetic one - but all of a sudden an uncut, semi-inletted original Reinhart Fajen 1903A3 Mannlicher walnut sporter showed up on auction:

Gimme it!

These stocks were considered the best-of-breed in the '50s and '60s and I couldn't believe there was still one of them around. I bought it in the last 10 seconds of the auction - even though I wondered why the walnut appeared so light in color and figured I might have to use a dab of stain to get good color. When the stock arrived, I realized the photographer used too much light - the stock is beautiful..... not exhibition grade wood, but just right for a very nice field-grade rifle:



I'm not a fan of the white grip/butt cap spacers on field rifles, so I removed those and reset the wood screws:





Now, I will have to do a little wood shaping to get the final fit - and some finish inletting for the Timney trigger. It's tempting to build a Mannlicher-style Springfield, but I really don't want one, so I'll cut about 12" from the forend. After final shaping and sanding, I'll bed the action and finish it with Tru-Oil..... haven't yet decided if I want to pillar-bed the action or if the barrel should be fully bedded..... guess I'll see how everything fits and then decide.

I'll post some more pictures as progress develops.

Frank

very nice frank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

All looks good. I think you're prob gonna have to re-crown that dude with a proper crowning tool.

I did the brass bolt trick on an ak I had with a damaged crown, and it patterned like buckshot at 100 yards off the bench. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

not my cup O tea, but it gets <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> from me.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Looking forward to the updates.

Dang, Frank, that's a big 'ol bag o skittles!

Nice project, and I also look forward to seeing the finished product!

Curtis, I'm not expecting more than a buckshot pattern - just thought I'd stop there on the muzzle and see what happens before buying a crown cutter or paying a smith. If it groups ok, I'll leave it alone, but I know it's not likely to perform. I'm pretty good with a file, but that may not be good enough.

This is gonna take a while. The front of the magazine well mates to the barrel lug for solid contact and support, but I think I need to install a pillar at the tang. I need to do some more reading to find out how the match shooters accurize their 1903s. I'd rather just install a rear pillar, but on the stock that I removed, I found a rear pillar plus complete bedding - I mean COMPLETE.... from the rear of the receiver tang to the tip of the forend.

Frank

OK, now I see how to do it.

Here are pictures of the barrel lug and magazine/trigger guard and you can see how the front of the trigger guard sets to the barrel lug, forming a quaisi steel/steel pillar mount:





Inside the stock is what the 1903 parts manual calls a "rear guard screw bushing" - actually, it amounts to another steel pillar mount. I thought the previous Bubba had installed this, but it was thought of over 100 years ago on these rifles:



So, I need to order a bushing and fit/install it in the rear of the Fajen stock. That and bedding the rear of the barrel lug should take care of fore/aft and up/down movement. Maybe it needs a little action bedding to eliminate side wobble, but I don't think all the bedding the last Bubba did was necessary:





Frank

That is some seriously pretty wood.

Yes, it sure is. I doubt you could find tiger striped walnut like that these days. I would keep the rifle in that stock, but I don't care for the straight grip and the LOP on Springfields is only 13"..... too short for my shooting style.

I've found the next issue. The Redfield JR base mount and scope rings arrived today. The original 1903A4 scope mount was made by Redfield, but the new ones are made in China. There's a gap between the receiver flat and the bottom of the scope base:



Looks like I'll be doing some serious filing or taking the receiver to a machine shop to mill the receiver dovetail..... the creep is on. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Like the energizer bunny...

The project that keeps going and going and going...

It does look good.