Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Off Topic > OT Forum
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Ready for the Big Match
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Ready for the Big Match

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Ready for the Big Match
    Posted: October 31 2022 at 4:20pm
I finally got myself a 1903a3 to compliment its cousin, the M1.  So I now have all “three guns” for shooting in the CMP GSM Matches, that is Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Matches. These are three separate 30 round matches, all shot at at 200 yards, 10 rounds prone slow,  10 rounds prone rapid and 10 rounds standing slow offhand. 

The 03a3 needed some work.  Barrel very badly fouled with a lot of copper and carbon.  Underneath the fouling I found a decent 2 groove Remington barrel that gaged at 0.3010 minus.  Stock had a crack that needed repair.  Trigger had about 1/8 inch of creep!  All has been corrected.  Just waiting on the reduced diameter rear sight aperture and the USMC wide front sight blade to come in. 

M1 has been restocked and now shoots great.  Shot a 291 with it (of 300 possible) in a practice match on the weekend. 

Here’s the lineup:



Can you tell I like the 1907 Sling?  Something to be said for consistency…

Telladega 600 annual match is in two weeks.  First time I’ll be in the running for the 3 gun aggregate…




Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 31 2022 at 5:49pm
Best of luck!
Back to Top
shiloh View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2019
Location: Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2369
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shiloh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 31 2022 at 6:23pm
I`ll second that,

Good luck.....
Lead from the front; eliminate all obstacles...
Back to Top
scottz63 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 08 2021
Location: Mid Mo
Status: Offline
Points: 829
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote scottz63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2022 at 1:31am
Yes, good luck! Take your 3 beautiful warhorses to the winner's circle.


My Smith Corona 03A3.


14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2022 at 5:15pm
Thanks guys.  

I did a bit of dry firing tonight with the 03a3.  Wow, that is going to take some work to build up some speed in the rapid fire stage.  The further forward bolt handle, cock on opening, 90 degree bolt rotation and long bolt throw is so much more difficult than the LE action. No just “flicking the wrist”.  It also throws my point of aim much further away than the LE while cycling the bolt. 

It may all just be what I’m used to, but I bet I cycle the LE bolt twice as fast as the 03.  And that’s a big deal for getting thru the 80 second rapid stage.  




Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2022 at 5:19pm
congrats - you look to have three competitors there 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 10:08am
Got to test fire the 1903a3, good thing, as this revealed a few more issues that needed to be corrected before the match next week.   

First, the second stage trigger creep was just unworkable. Really throws my shooting off.   I’ve worked it back again, careful stoning on the second stage hump on the trigger and taking some off the top of the sear.  I want to see how that settles, still some creep, but it’s about half what it was. 

Second, the upper barrel band migrates forward on recoil.  The hole in the stock for the small cross screw was way too large, not securing the band to the stock.  That has now been fixed.

Third, the rear sight moves forward/down from recoil.  That has now been fixed. 

Despite the above issues at the range yesterday, the rifle is showing real promise.  Here’s a prone slow fire group (200 yards).  That last shot was me, trigger creep threw me off. 



Heres the prone rapid fire group.  Just a shade too wide with the 9.8 and 9.9 shots #2 and #3. That can be improved upon as I get used to shooting the rifle.  



The good thing is that this rifle seems to shoot my M1 match load with the Speer 125 grain TNT bullet just fine, so I won’t have to load up ammo specific to this rifle.  I tried some 168’s, and they shot well too, same POI as the 125 grain load. 


Back to Top
Zed View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: May 01 2012
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 5585
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 11:43am
That's looking good!
Best of luck for the competition!
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 11:53am
That looks great.
I usually put a small (q-tip schmear) of grease on the sear face, humps on the trigger & front face where it engages the sear of the cocking piece. That seems to smooth & slightly lighten pull, with minimal change to the feel on release.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
shiloh View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2019
Location: Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 2369
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shiloh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 12:46pm
Good shoot`n, and with an un-tuned rifle.
Best of luck(skill) next week.
Lead from the front; eliminate all obstacles...
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 12:49pm
Yes, I first disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and greased the sear faces and humps on the trigger.  Then dry fired a few dozen times. 

The pull weight is good, 4 lbs (Rule Minimum is 3.5 lbs).  It’s smooth, except it just has a lot of second stage creep.  Not at all conducive to accurate shooting.  I suspect I will have to do some additional stoning to the top edge of the sear.  Have to be very careful to stop before the cocking piece has any chance of slipping off at the end of the first stage. If it does then I’ll need a new sear and start over. 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 1:10pm
Thanks for the good luck wishes guys.  Should be interesting for sure.  I’m shooting five different rifles in five different matches over three days.  A bit of a shooting marathon.  

I’ve not shot my No. 4 since the D-Day Match!  I’ve been concentrating on the AR Service Rifle matches this year, and getting my M1 restocked and shooting well.  Sure hope I don’t screw up with the No. 4 after having some success last year.  I missed out on the current record score in the Vintage Military Rifle Matches by one lousy point!  Augh….but pleased for being at the top of the CMP score list for 2021 tho. 

I wished I had started this when I was MUCH younger!







Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 1:59pm
"I suspect I will have to do some additional stoning to the bottom edge of the sear."
The sear or the cocking piece?
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 2:15pm
The sear, this is a 1903. I should have said “upper edge of the sear” to reduce its engagement with the cocking piece. 

Back to Top
A square 10 View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: December 12 2006
Location: MN , USA
Status: Offline
Points: 14452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 6:31pm
i see you found one in a "C" Stock , most ive seen were in the scant - i found that less than optimum for competition , what little i did of it , i reverted to my springfield M1903A1 in lieu of the A3 , i realy liked the "C" Stock 

BTW , i also had a nice 1943 smith corona version of the A3 , i did have a remington M1903 modified but it was not a shooter made in the first batch after pearl 1942 
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2022 at 3:26am
Yes, I was particularly looking for a “C” stock, which makes it very similar to the M1.  Quite comfortable to shoot, although noticeably more recoil than the M1 with the same ammo.  

I was surprised how many a3s were made during the war, presumably mostly for the Marines?  Were any US army units issued with the a3 in 42-45? 


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.