New to me Springfield 1903 A3 shooting CMP 30-06 Greek HXP ammo. Chambers easily, but very hard bolt lift after discharge. 10 out of 10. Other than too much pressure any ideas? I thought I'd be ok with the Greek surplus. Shoots fine in my M1.
New to Me 1903 A3 Hard Bolt Lift
- Thread starter Kurt Blasser
- Start date
dstoenner
Silver $$ Contributor
When you dryfire is it as hard to cock the bolt? The reason i ask is that I also have a 1903a3 and i have 2 bolts. The original is smooth but the second bolt that was turned down to clear a scope is hard to lift even empty. Yet it headspaces and fires just fine. My guess is that in reworking the bolt they heated up the cocking ramp and it is not as heat treated and therefore as slick as an original bolt.
Greek hxp is fine. That is not the issue
Greek hxp is fine. That is not the issue
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Thanks all! Bolt opens and closes fine dryfiring. Have not tried other ammo yet, but plan to.
How is the chamber on your rifle? Even the slightest roughness or scratches can cause your situation. Shoot some different ammo and see what happens.
First high power rifle I ever got was a Springfield 03A3 which was actually to have been a 03A4. I worked my butt off at the age of 12 mowing, working in hay and tobacco fields and any other thing I could do to make money to get the $40 in 1969 to purchase it. Local box store had shopping carts full in boxes. At the time all I knew was that it was a 30-06 Army rifle. My Dad did not deer hunt but my neighbor did and he told me if I got me a rifle he would take me deer hunting. Years later after I had sold that heavy rifle and got a Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win. I started to really get interested in military firearms and discovered that the rifle that I had owned actually had the bent bolt and the receiver markings were on the lower left side not the top of the receiver. This rifle did have the open sights on it though and was not drilled for scope mount on the front ring.
I am guessing that these rifles were a bunch that was re-worked and some were just put together with extra parts laying around. This rifle was in unissued condition when I got it. Self butt kicking time for me. I now have three 03A3s, one Remington 2 groove barrel and two Smith Corona. Got one of the SC from CMP and the other two from a friends gun shop. A fellow had brought them into his store wanting what he could get out of them. Story was his father, a black man, was a truck driver in WWII on the Red Ball Express. When he came home from the war he brought these two rifles with him and he put them in the closet in his bed room and told everyone NEVER TOUCH THEM. About 70 years latter the old man dies and his son who lives in Chicago is now cleaning out the house to sale and finds these rifles still in the closet. Since he can't have them where he lives he comes to sale them. They had a light surface rust from the east NC humidity on the outside but no pitting and on the inside looked new. I believe the Remington was new because it did not even have a scratch on the bolt face. I got both at a very good price and cleaned them up and both shoot really well with the Remington being super accurate.
First high power rifle I ever got was a Springfield 03A3 which was actually to have been a 03A4. I worked my butt off at the age of 12 mowing, working in hay and tobacco fields and any other thing I could do to make money to get the $40 in 1969 to purchase it. Local box store had shopping carts full in boxes. At the time all I knew was that it was a 30-06 Army rifle. My Dad did not deer hunt but my neighbor did and he told me if I got me a rifle he would take me deer hunting. Years later after I had sold that heavy rifle and got a Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win. I started to really get interested in military firearms and discovered that the rifle that I had owned actually had the bent bolt and the receiver markings were on the lower left side not the top of the receiver. This rifle did have the open sights on it though and was not drilled for scope mount on the front ring.
I am guessing that these rifles were a bunch that was re-worked and some were just put together with extra parts laying around. This rifle was in unissued condition when I got it. Self butt kicking time for me. I now have three 03A3s, one Remington 2 groove barrel and two Smith Corona. Got one of the SC from CMP and the other two from a friends gun shop. A fellow had brought them into his store wanting what he could get out of them. Story was his father, a black man, was a truck driver in WWII on the Red Ball Express. When he came home from the war he brought these two rifles with him and he put them in the closet in his bed room and told everyone NEVER TOUCH THEM. About 70 years latter the old man dies and his son who lives in Chicago is now cleaning out the house to sale and finds these rifles still in the closet. Since he can't have them where he lives he comes to sale them. They had a light surface rust from the east NC humidity on the outside but no pitting and on the inside looked new. I believe the Remington was new because it did not even have a scratch on the bolt face. I got both at a very good price and cleaned them up and both shoot really well with the Remington being super accurate.
Thanks! Chamber looks good. This weekend I'll try some new ammo. Any limit to the size of the bullet. I have some creed more 168 gn.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
Since this only happens with fired cases, is it possible that the bolt has been replaced at some point and headspace wasn't adjusted? Lots of '.03s were put together from boxes of surplus parts for DCM programs or other civilian sales. I have seen several with bolts not matching rifles and having excessive headspace. Just a thought.
With the 03A3 you can shoot any weight bullet. The M1 Garand is the only one you need to stay 180 gr or below for op-rods sake. With my first 03A3 I had a cousin that was in the National Guard and every month when he came home from muster he brought me a 250 round can of the black tip AP ammo. It had a 170 something gr bullet and in my rifle it was much more accurate than the M2 Ball 150/2 gr.. For really long range the Sierra 190 gr Match King is what I have found to work really well.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
Good. Just a suggestion.
Dadgumit I wish this old wives tale would die! It ain’t the friggin weight of bullet it’s the powder! Stuff an ‘06 case full of 4831 and a 168 bullet and you’ll get a nice bent operating rod! Put 4064 in it with a 200 grain bullet at a moderate load (NOT maximum) and your operating rod will be fine.
Pleased to announce that I was able to shoot with Creedmore ammo and no issues whatsoever with bolt lift. Thanks all.
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