Working off the assumption you're looking for a shooter-
I would start with barrel condition. Is it pitted? How are the muzzle and throat erosion measurements? A good barrel is one of the bedrocks of good performance.
The C stock is arguably the most comfortable for shooting use. There are...
From a logistical perspective, it's wasteful to pour so much devotion into a service rifle. The simplified Remington 03s were every bit as serviceable as their nicer predecessors but could be produced more quickly, wore down less machinery, and cost less money.
The 03 had its day, but times...
I bought this M1903 with the intent to raid it for the stock set. It's not everyday that you come across a prewar C stock in crisp, undamaged condition.
When it arrived, the stock was every bit as nice as I had hoped for. The outside was unsanded and there's barely any damage. Inside, there...
I finally found an excellent walnut stocked Swedish m/96. I've seen plenty of beech-stocked rifles but I'm a big fan of walnut on surplus rifles. This is the only foreign rifle in my collection.
Numbers matching throughout and the stock is in great condition. My only gripe is the...
My 1903 Springfield addiction continues to spiral out of control.
The latest addition is an early Remington M1903 (#3256) likely built in November, 1941.
The previous owner (Rick the Librarian of CMP fame) bought it as a rifle that was untampered with except for a butchered New Zealand...
My Toy- Boyds manages to excel in incompetence. They claim to 3D scan actions and CNC the stocks. When I asked about one of their M1903 stocks with the bushing hole drilled at the wrong angle, the employee didn't seem to think that it was a big deal.
Drmsparks- My belief is that infantry-grade...
A slight amendment on my info- I didn't get the stock info from Hatcher's Book of the Garand now that I think of it.
The front handguard is supposed to be loose. Per the CMP armorers' advice:
"The intentional clearance and movement felt in the front hand guard is there to help maintain a...
CMP stocks need both fitting and finishing work for me to put one on my personal rifle.
Fitting a stock is not that hard. Here's my guide: http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=159912
A lot of people seemed to be upset that I followed Major General Hatcher's instructions. Either way, the...
CMP uses stocks manufactured by Boyds to Dupage Trading Co's specifications. Those new production stocks come with a brown stain and a CMP stamp. Some people have reported difficulty with oiling over the stain. The stain seals the wood and the oil will pretty much accumulate on top.
Here's a...
That's true.
A point on the 500/590 vs 870 debate: I've found most of the arguments regarding ergonomics on both guns to be overblown. Full disclosure - I'm left handed and own two Mossberg pump guns. When handling Remington 870s, I am not too bothered by rotating my hand slightly to hit the...
Nice M1903! I hope they didn't tell you it was completely, as-issued original as the handguard appears to be a convex replacement (possibly Booher) and the firing proof in the square is a rebuild mark
Some background to start- I have a Glock 43 with magazine removal issues. Most of the time, the magazine would not drop free and had to be pulled from the weapon. Like some other people that have posted online, the edge of the lip where the magazine catch interfaces was mushrooming. I shaved...
Shooting my friend's G43 convinced me to buy one as well. While it does require a little more attention to shoot accurately when compared to my G19, I do like how thin and light it is.