New 1903A3 owner

[Sparky78]

New owner to the 1903A3 and have a few questions. I started a account on the CMP forum but its having issues with posting and searching. So I came here to ask a few questions while waiting on email reply. Anyone who owns or knowledge on resizing brass for the 03A3. First I FL size brass and shot brass to chamber form. From there on do I neck size only or FL size every time. Looking at 3 piece doe set for this job. FL die, neck only die and seating die. Any info will is greatly appreciated.
Side note is there a must have book on the 03A3 in regards to this post and more.

 

[mmcu]

Full length size your brass every time.

 

[rockhound78]

I full length size the first time and then maybe two more firings I will only neck size, depending on intensity of the load. Then FL size and repeat. For a Garand, I full length size every time.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Full length size your brass so the bolt closes easily. You do not have a benchrest gun. Have fun with it.

 

[Sparky78]

I full length size the first time and then maybe two more firings I will only neck size, depending on intensity of the load. Then FL size and repeat. For a Garand, I full length size every time.

Dont have a garand missed that buy by two days. Got home and drank my tears with bourbon.

 

[RegionRat]

First I FL size brass and shot brass to chamber form. From there on do I neck size only or FL size every time. Looking at 3 piece doe set for this job. FL die, neck only die and seating die. Any info will is greatly appreciated.
Side note is there a must have book on the 03A3 in regards to this post and more.

The only problem with this statement is that the body may or may not fit after those cycles unless you at least "bump size" it.

While you may get away with that neck size on the prone slow fire stage, it could cause you frustration on the rapids and offhand. You really don't want to have trouble during a match with rapids or struggle with ammo while standing in offhand.

So basically, we advise rookies that they should at least "bump size", which is a form of full length sizing. We only need to bump the shoulder datum on the order of 0.001 - 0.003" to insure they have their diameters worked, and the shoulder datum will always fit.

Even after all this shoulder bumping, some of these original surplus 03A3 rifles may get clickers due to a lack of coordination between the chambers, brass, and dies. In these situations, we end up with a Small Base die that gives those diameters a little more work.

Good Luck with your Springfield and welcome to The Wooden Guns Games.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Go get a Redding full length bushing die. get a bushing .002 and .003 smaller than a loaded round.
adjust die to bump back shoulder .003-.005.
Load and go have fun!
Been shooting 03's and garands for 40 years

 

[ISS]

Congratulations on your acquisition!

 

[Bamban]

Congratulations on your acquisition, you'll have years of fun with it.

Full length size as others already mentioned.

 

[joshb]

I recently shot my 03-A3 with 125 grain bullets. Recoil was a lot easier on my shoulder than shooting the 168s.

 

[demarpaint1]

Congrats, I'd love to have one.

 

[Bamban]

I recently shot my 03-A3 with 125 grain bullets. Recoil was a lot easier on my shoulder than shooting the 168s.

Years ago that's what I shot at Perry, 125 Berger FB in the 03 match. Prone they shot great.

 

[GotRDid]

The Sierra 125 gr MK HPFB is another stellar performer for both Garands and 03s/03A3s.
At typical JCG Match distance of 200 yds, with a good rifle and good form, missing the 10 ring is Operator error .

 

[ebb]

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf Josh you can still use your 168s or the 125s for an even lighter load. I made some for an older neighbor for his Ruger 77. He loves them.

 

[joshb]

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf Josh you can still use your 168s or the 125s for an even lighter load. I made some for an older neighbor for his Ruger 77. He loves them.

Thank you for that, ebb. I shot some H4895 reduced loads on the same day I shot the “full house” 125 grain bullet loads. I was happy to learn that the 125 loads didn’t loosen my teeth. I’m not tied to H4895 when I want to shoot the ‘06.
I have another ‘06 I want to shoot and I’ll use the 125 grain bullets for that one too. It’s an old gun I picked up from Gary in Florida. It’s a Model 30 Express barreled action in a custom stock and set triggers.

 

[GotRDid]

Dont have a garand missed that buy by two days. Got home and drank my tears with bourbon.

You have a PM concerning Garands, Sir.

 

[RCE1]

Here's a match rifle that's been in my collection.



The trigger looks to be hand made. Chambered in .250 Savage with "Mann Chamber". I'm not sure what Mann chambers were like. I've read he was interested in zero neck clearance, which is a little scary, but I'm not sure what that means in this example.

 

[karrarararararar]

125 Speer TNT's make for good "games" match food too

 

[ebb]

Hodgdon states in that link that H4895 can be reduced to 60 percent of max and be safe. The ammo I made for Claus was at 60 percent of their listed max and it shoot great and recoil was reduced to some thing he could tolerate.

 

[Doom]

I don't know of any works especially written around the A3 but for the 03 in general there is a wealth of information in Hatcher's Notebook.