Sporterized Springfield

[Thomkat]

My Dad some years back gave me this rifle.

Doing some research I think it is one of the NRA Sporterized models from the twenties or thirties era.

The serial number is 65XXXX, I finally broke down and pulled the scope off the receiver and it is one made by Springfield.

Well I can use the scope on something else as I will never shoot it, knowing it is a low S/N Springfield.

I suppose I could make it a wall hanger.

[Enfield47]

Did your dad fire the rifle? If so, chance are pretty good that it won't fail on you - especially if you don't use high pressure ammo. If you reload, you can always play it safe and shoot gallery loads (10 gr of Unique with a 150 gr bullet). That would still give you a chance to enjoy the rifle.

[Thomkat]

He said he did, but I recall him always hunting with a Remington pump action rifle in 35 Rem.

Well I guess I could just store it away as a last resort go to...

[Crunch130]

Post pictures! Ya' know, there are people who collect low-number Springfields. You might be able to get enough out of it to buy something you can shoot without second thoughts.

Crunch

[TMB 1]

Post pictures! Ya' know, there are people who collect low-number Springfields.

Yeah, let's see it. There are people who shoot them too.

[Crunch130]

There have been enough failures with low-number M1903's that I wouldn't put my face behind one. Their manufacturing process RANDOMLY induced brittleness. They're not all that way. There's no way to inspect for it or undo it with heat treating.

As a mechanical engineer, I'd take one as a wallhanger only.

Crunch

[Flyin Brian]

Does it have a tiny star stamped into the bottom of the muzzle? I'm fairly certain the Springfield sporters did not have scopes originally, but it could have been added later.

I was just looking at one last week and was trying to work a trade on it. They're pretty interesting pieces of history

[gunboat]

20 some failures per 800+ thousand rifles --

All USMC low numbers remained in service through WWII--
no recorded failures -

[NOTABIKER]

I would shoot it if it was me.

[knucklehead0202]

[dfletcher]

My Dad some years back gave me this rifle.

Doing some research I think it is one of the NRA Sporterized models from the twenties or thirties era.

The serial number is 65XXXX, I finally broke down and pulled the scope off the receiver and it is one made by Springfield.

Well I can use the scope on something else as I will never shoot it, knowing it is a low S/N Springfield.

I suppose I could make it a wall hanger.

NRA Springfield Sporter 1903 rifles were not drilled & tapped. I have one made in Oct 1928, unfortunately Grandpa sent it to Griffin & Howe about 1935 or so and the rifle carries their side mount, among other things. In addition to the "star gauged" stamp on the muzzle it's fairly easy to spot an original. The rifle should have a barrel band on the forend and a checkered steel buttplate. The stock should be uncheckered.

Going out on a limb, I don't believe any NRA Sporters were made on "low number" receivers. But a picture of the rifle would most likely settle any questions.

[TRAP55]

20 some failures per 800+ thousand rifles --

All USMC low numbers remained in service through WWII--
no recorded failures -

^^^ This, and the fact, that if it hasn't already come undone, it ain't likely that it's going to.

[Crunch130]

I think your 20 receiver failures might be off a bit.

http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/42803/Very-good-essay-on-M1903-Springfield-receiver-failures?page=1

[TMB 1]

Conclusions

The problem of Springfield receiver failures was a rare event throughout the service years of the Springfield rifle despite statements to the contrary. It was also concentrated in certain years of manufacture suggesting that an important component of the failure was human error in heat treatment. The heat treatment problems had been present long before the manufacturing pressures of 1917. The receiver failures were also compounded by a design flaw in the support of the cartridge case head in the Springfield rifle, and this problem was exacerbated by uneven manufacturing of brass cartridge cases during 1917-18.

Eleven receiver failures in 1917 prompted an investigation and a change in the heart treatment of the receivers. The decision in 1928 to replace the low numbered receivers as rifles were returned to arsenal for repair was an effort to provide soldiers with a greater degree of safety. The board of officers recommended that the low numbered receivers all be withdrawn from service, but the general responsible for reviewing this decision did not concur with the board's decision, and left most low numbered receivers in service until replaced by the M1 Garand in the early 1940's. He took a calculated risk, and the risk paid off. There were no further receiver failures after 1929.

It also suggests that ammunition manufactured during World War I likely played a major role in receiver failures

No receiver failures after 1929 even with low numbers. Sounds like it was mostly an ammo problem.

[Crunch130]

Sounds like a potential ammo problem in conjunction with some receivers having a manufacturing defect resulted in "negative margins of safety" i.e. structural failure.

Mishaps (aviation, automotive, etc) usually occur as a result of the overlap of several contributing factors. This is something drilled into our heads on the job (engineer doing flight test) rather than in school.

Regards,
Crunch