Original Springfield 1903 A3 Service Manual
M1903 Springfield with loading clips The 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. 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, 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 shell casings 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.' Towards 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 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. 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, 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 usually identified by the absence of markings (Smith/Corona bolts are sometimes marked with an 'X' on top of the bolt handle root).
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 Springfield M1903. The M1903 became one of the primary rifles used by French forces until the end of the war, and was afterwards used by local militia and security forces in and French.
Large numbers of M1903 Springfields were sent to China. 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.
M1903 Springfield used during a vintage sniper rifle match in 2012 Due 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. After the creation of the privatized (CMP) in 1996, the Army has located additional M1903 and M1903A3 rifles which have been made available for sale to eligible customers. The CMP announced over Halloween weekend 2008, that they had a handful of M1903 and M1903A3s available for sale. The following Monday, the CMP received over 700 pieces of mail, and most of the rifles have since sold out, per the update from the CMP.
Specifications. Diagram of the.30 Springfield Rifle The 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 conspicuous knob at the rear of the bolt, allowing the rifle's trigger tension to be released without dry firing and damaging the firing pin.
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). Used original Type S. M1903 Bullpup (1903): experimental conversion for the USMC. M1903 (1905): changed from a rod type bayonet to the knife type Model 1905 bayonet and to the improved Model 1905 sight.
Original Springfield 1903 A3 Service Manual
M1903 (1906): modified again to specifically fire the new M1906 cartridge ('Ball Cartridge, caliber 30, Model of 1906'). M1903 NRA (1915–1917): sold to members and stamped NRA on the forward tang of the trigger guard. M1903 Air Service (1918): issued to aircrew with permanent 25-round magazine and modified Type S stock forend designed as backup for if a plane's machine gun jammed in combat. M1903 Mark I (1918–1920): modified for specific use with the. M1903 NM (1921–1940): selected rifles produced at Springfield Armory for National Match shooting competition. Production barrels were measured with star-gauges, and those meeting specified tolerances were stamped with an asterisk shaped star on the muzzle crown.
These barrels were fitted to selected receivers with hand-fitted and polished parts. The bolt was left unblued while the receiver and barrel were finished with a black Parkerizing process. Some bolts have the safety direction reversed to prevent it from striking the nose of a right-handed shooter, and those made from 1924 to 1929 have the knurled cocking piece removed to decrease lock time. Early rifles used the type S stock until the type C stock became standard in 1929. Rifles made for sale to NRA members (priced at $40.44) were drilled and tapped for a Lyman 48 receiver sight and had either a type B (or NB) stock with no grasping grooves and a noticeable drop at the heel for a long pistol grip, or a special National Match stock with a high comb and pistol grip. Total production was 28,907.
1903 A3 Reproductions
Most were issued to service teams and 25,377 were reconditioned at Springfield armory after one year of match use. Reconditioned rifles have a large gas-escape port drilled into the left side of the receiver. M1903 Bushmaster carbine (1940s): the and stock were cut down 18 inches (460 mm) for easier use in; 4,725 such rifles were made. It was a training rifle and saw no action. After World War II most were dumped into the ocean and surviving pieces are rare. M1903 with 'scant' stock (1942): in late 1941, before the 1903A3 was standardized, Army Ordnance wanted to standardize on a pistol-grip stock for all M1903 rifles.
There were thousands of stock blanks that had been sized for the old straight stock. They weren't deep enough for the full pistol grip of the Type C stock, so they were modified to allow a 'scant' grip that was the largest grip they could form. These 'scant' stocks would only fit on a 1903, and would not fit an 03A3.
Springfield only rebuilt existing M1903 rifles using this stock in 1942 and marked the cut-off seat with a small 's'. 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. The Army considered any rifle with a pistol grip stock an M1903A1, but M1903 receiver markings were unchanged. M1903A2 (1930s–1940s): basically a stripped A1 or A3 used as a subcaliber rifle with artillery pieces.
M1903A3 (1942–1944): sights were changed to an aperture (peep) system mounted on the receiver, and the rifle was modified for easier production with stamped metal parts and somewhat different grip and stock (late model Type S stock; no finger grooves). M1903 (Modified) (1941–1942): Transition production of M1903 rifles by Remington Arms until the M1903A3 design was implemented involved modification of various parts creating a hybrid between the M1903 and M1903A3. M1903A4 (1942): an M1903A3 modified to be a sniper rifle using an M73 or M73B1 2.5× Weaver and different stock, and omitting the iron sights.
There are two main other types, various training types, and competition versions such as the types. Aside from these there are some other civilian versions, experimental versions, and other miscellaneous types.
Due to the duration of its service, there is also a range of smaller differences among ones from different periods and manufacturers. In regard to its military use, it is important to note that during World War I it was actually outnumbered by the for much of the war.
Also, during World War II many remained in use early on, especially in the Pacific (generally replaced as M1s became available), in addition to service (along with other weapons) as a sniper rifle and to launch. 'Bannerman Springfields' At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Scottish-born magnate, assembled 1,000 M1903 rifles from surplus parts which were rebored to accept ammunition. These he presented to the together with the associated bayonets, pouches and webbing, as a patriotic gesture. Unfortunately, the conversion was not a success and it was found that the rimmed.303 cartridge would not feed properly from the magazine. The rifles were stamped 'DP', i.e. Fit for 'drill purposes' only, and presented to the who were otherwise without any weapons. In popular culture used this rifle, with iron sights, to take all his big game, including lions, on his first African safari in 1933.
That safari is the subject of, published in 1935. Users.: Captured from United States Army during World War II.: Captured from South Korean army during Korean War.: still in use with the units. See also. The cartridge most M1903s are chambered for. A modification to allow for semiautomatic fire from the M1903.
For all other 'Springfield' rifles. The rifle that the M1903 replaced in the U.S. Army service. The rifle that the M1903 replaced in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps service. A substitute standard rifle issued during World War I. The M1903 Springfield's official replacement.
Contemporary German rifle. Contemporary British Army rifle. Notes. Bowers Firearms. Retrieved 8 October 2017. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. University Press.
Retrieved 21 April 2015. ^ Canfield, Bruce N. '100 Years Of The '03 Springfield'. 151 (March): 42–45&78. Sheehan, John (1 October 2006). Guns Magazine.
The Free Library. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
Kontis, George (24 August 2011). Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2015. Canfield, Bruce N. 'From Poor Invention To America's Best'. 154 (September): 59–61, 91–92&94. Handbook of Ordnance Data.
Government Printing Office: 332. 15 November 1918. Retrieved 22 April 2015. Canfield, February 2008, p. 13.
^ Canfield, Bruce N. M1903A1 Rifles'. 152 (January): 20. Lyon, Joseph: Some Observations On The Failure Of U.S. Model 1903 Rifle Receivers.
^ Barnes, Frank C., Cartridges of the World, 6th ed., DBI Books Inc. 59. Dunlap, Roy (1948). Ordnance Went Up Front: some observations and experiences of a sergeant of Ordnance, who served throughout World War II with the United States Army in Egypt, the Philippines and Japan, including way stations. Plantersville, S.C.: Small-Arms Technical Publishing Company. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
Vanderpool, Bill 'Bring Enough Gun' October 2013 pp. 80–85&115–116. ^ Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 302.
^ Canfield, Bruce N. 'Wartime Remington M1903s?' 163 (March): 44. Brophy, William, The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Stackpole Books (1985), p. 187. Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 362.
^ Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 301. Bishop, Chris (1998), The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, New York: Orbis Publiishing Ltd,. George, John (Lt Col), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 391: 'Nearly every one Marine I talked to on Guadalcanal who used the Springfield in combat-without a scope-would have much rather been using a Garand.'
Springfield 1903 A3
. George, John (Lt Col), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p.
391. George, John (Lt. Col.), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 392. ^ George, John (Lt.
Col.), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 392–393.
George, John (Lt. Col.), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 296–299. Gazette des Armes (in French). ^ Jowett, Philip (10 Jul 2005). The Chinese Army 1937–49: World War II and Civil War.
Men-at-Arms 424. Canfield, Bruce N. (September 2008) pp. 72–75.
Forgotten Weapons (2017-11-28), retrieved 2017-11-29. Norell, James O.E. M1903A1 Rifles'. 151 (July): 38–41. Canfield, Bruce N. M1903A1 Rifles'. (January): 38.
Skennerton, The Lee Enfield: A Century of Lee-Metford & Lee-Enfield Rifles & Carbines, Arms & Militaria Press 2007, (p. 162). Maximiano, Cesar; Bonalume, Ricardo N (2011).
Men at Arms 465. Pp. 10, 16–17, 44.
^ Rottman, Gordon L. (10 Feb 2009).
Warrior 135. ^ Windrow, Martin (15 Nov 1998). The French Indochina War 1946–54. Men-at-Arms 322. Conboy, Kenneth (23 Nov 1989).
The War in Laos 1960–75. Men-at-Arms 217. Osprey Publishing.
Armas de las Islas Filipinas. July 22, 2011. References. Thompson, Leroy (20 February 2013). Ball, Robert W. D., Springfield Armory Shoulder Weapons 1795–1968. Norfolk, VA: Antique Trader Books, 1997.
Canfield, Bruce N. (February 2008). ' 'Low Number' M1903 Springfields'. American Rifleman.
Engineer Field Manual, War Department, Document No. Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of The Army of the United States, War Department, Document No. 'Bushmaster '03 Carbine,' American Rifle magazine, April 2005, p. 40. Infantry Weapons of World War II.
Canfield, Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 1994. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to. Reference manual page including several M1903 manuals.