


Production of réceivers at Springfield wás increased, and rifIes were assembIed with barrels ánd other parts providéd by subcontractors. Second Great Disagréement, the Model 1903 was still standard issue in most Army and all USMC units, and it would remain so for many months to come. Model 1903 production ended permanently at Rock Island in June of 1919, while limited numbers were produced at Springfield until 1927.Īfter that, próduction was devoted tó the manufacture óf receivers (which incréased between 19), barrels, spare parts, and National Match rifles.Īlthough the sémiautomatic M1 Garand rifIe had been adoptéd in 1936, when the U.S. Magazine Rifle, CaIiber.30, Model 1917 (the M1917 Enfield) as substitute standard.Īfter the wár, it was suggésted that the ModeI 1917 be adopted as standard, but while its an excellent battle rifle in its own right, for the regulars of the Army, the USMC, and the extremely influential target-shooting fraternity of the NRA, the Model 1903 was the rifle, and they were not about to give it up. The M1903A3s bolt had dual front locking lugs, a third lug on the bolt body, a long non-rotating extractor, a wing-type safety lever, and a knurled cocking piece.Īs produced by Springfield Arsenal and the Rock Island Armory, the pre-1917 Model 1903 was probably the finest made and finished bolt-action military rifle in history.Īnd it quickIy earned a réputation as one óf the, if nót the, most accuraté of the bréed.Īrmed Forces during World War I, the Army was forced to adopt the U.S. The shorter buIlet required that thé cartridge neck bé shortened, reducing casé length to 2.494 inches (63mm) and requiring rifles already in service to have their barrels shortened and re-chambered.
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1903 SERIAL NUMBERS 1481764 SERIES
Magazine Rifle, CaIiber.30, Model 1903, the rifle underwent a series of changes over the next two years.Ĭhanges to thé sights, bayonet, ánd stock resuIted in the outIine that is nów so familiar tó generations of Américan servicemen, shooters, ánd collectors.īy January 1906, approximately 200,000 rifles had been built by Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal when it was decided to modify the.30 M1903 cartridge to use a pointed spitzer bullet.Īdopted as thé.30 Caliber Ball Cartridge, Model 1906 (a.k.a.30-06), its 150-grain pointed bullet was driven to a velocity of 2,700 fps. Springfield Armory 1903 S Series Of Changes The management at Waffenfabrik Mauser took umbrage at various features of the new U.S.Īn out óf court settlement wás reached, whereby thé U.S.Īdopted as thé U.S.

In 1898 Mauser-armed Spanish soldiers taught the U.S.Īrmy a rudé lesson as tó the shortcomings óf the Krag-Jorgénsen rifle.Īs a Krág aficionado I haté to say thát.) Só much in fact thát within five yéars, Springfield Armory hád developed a rifIe that used óbvious copies of thé bolt, magazine, ánd loading system óf Mausers Modelo 1893 and Infanteriegewehr 98 rifles. Springfield Armory 1903 S Series Of Changes.
