Military Channel's M1903

[Cato]

On the combat rifles program they lauded the M1903 as being extremely accurate. What about it makes it so accurate? So accurate that it stands out among it's peers (ie Enfields, Mosins, Mausers, etc)?

[phish]

I think they pulled that statement out of their butt, along with a lot of other claims on that show.

"extremely accurate" is a relative term anyway when it comes to combat rifles

[ccampbell]

They probably meant accurate compared to previous US military rifles (Krag, ..).

[mousegun]

Typical military rifles of the M1903's era are usually capable of two to four minutes of angle (MOA) on the range. The bolt action is a simple, stout, stiff design which has the potential of much greater accuracy - better than 1 MOA in many cases - if properly prepared. Depending on the quality of manufacture and, in some cases, a specific design attribute, the bolt action can be expected to perform accurately as issued to the troops. The M1903 is such a rifle. In many cases, the 98 Mauser, Mosin Nagant 91/30 and Swiss K-31 are also in that group. The M1903 (and its step-parent the 98 Mauser) also has the distinction of being one of the more elegant and attractive designs of the period, and so has accrued significant urban legendry as to its accuracy.

But an accurate rifle will not make an expert out of an inexperienced rifleman. However, you'd be amazed at what an expert marksman can do with a mediocre rifle.

[Directshot]

Didn't see the program your speaking about, but I have the M1903, several K98 Mausers, the odd number of Mosin Nagant 91/30's and Swiss K-31's. As an average shooter they are very accurate even with the surplus ammo you push through them. On the M1903 I have my own reloads that I prefer and have always shot consistent overlapping groups. Don't forget... most of these combat rifles have seen their better days and they still perform extremely well.

[mj1]

Wow! So many 03 experts here.


100 yard ammo test. 150g Yugo M-2 and H-4895.



Cheers
MJ

[singleshotman]

re:1903 springfield rifle

According to the book "Ordance went up front" by Dunlop(if you're a mil-surp fan you MUST get this book), the 1903's shooting is mostly a myth because the national match rifles(with bull barrels) shot so good. He said in practice, they didn't shoot any better than an M1 rifle, at least in general service.He says,however they could be "tuned" a lot, but there is very little tuning than can be done to an M1 rifle because of the design.

[Full Clip]

I have to wonder also if the 03's rep for being so acccurate has something to do with the fact that U.S.-made mil-spec ammo was simply much better than the ammo produced by other countries. If current Wolf production is any indication of the QC on ammo in the former Soviet Union, well...

[M. Sage]

The 03 had peep sights, didn't it? That could account for a lot. Tangent sights suck on rifles.

[icormba]

The 03 had peep sights, didn't it? That could account for a lot. Tangent sights suck on rifles.

M1903 = tangent sights
M1903A3 = peep sights


I should also mention I have a 100 year old Swede battle rifle that will put all the other rifles I own to shame.

[mj1]

There is a thing called training.

The standard was higher in 1939 to 1943.





Cuts in training happened again in 1951, the need for bodies was greater than the system could deliver.


Cheers
MJ

[xenophobe]

I once got a 3 shot group with a 1903A3 about the size of a quarter... two shots were touching.

I had dibs on the rifle, but the guy sold it without telling me. That bastard. It was one hell of an accurate 03.

[-hanko]

On the combat rifles program they lauded the M1903 as being extremely accurate. What about it makes it so accurate?

Probably since the Springfield is based on Paul Mauser's design

-hanko

[EricCartmann]

4 MOA on my 824,xxx M1903 that has a barrel dated 1942.

[mj1]

I beg to differ, they are accurate.

VERY!