First center fire rifle I fired. In college a disabled Vietnam vet next door had an '03 and used to take me out to a strip mine to shoot. Then he taught me how to reload.
Love those old war horses! I’ve got a A3 and love it. I also have a life long romance with the Caliber 30 M1917 but the Springfield was and still is just a different kind of beautiful. Lighter, shorter, easier to maneuver and easier to pick up a sight picture
Your not alone. I gave away a bunch of surplus bolt actions before Y2K. I don't feel to bad though. Almost everyone I gifted a rifle to still shoots regularly.
I gave $125 for one...and a friend begged me to buy it. I sold and he promised when he died it would come back to me... Of course, it didn't. I couldn't replace it for less than $1k. It was in almost pristine condition.
Oh you ain't wrong. I did buy a lot of guns back than. Unfortunately I sold them. And with my recent loss due to burglary, I'm kinda nostalgic about it.
For these long range videos it feels like we should have a second camera down range on the targets. So we have footage of Ian operating the gun and we have footage of whatever Ian is reacting to down range
I rescued a sporterized 03A3 they used the original scope mount so I built it into a sniper found an original A4 scant stock, repro A4 bolt body and a NOS 5 groove barrel and it shoots .6” groups regularly
We had de-milled 03A3 drill rifles in ROTC at my high school. What you can’t get from the video is how beautifully the 03A3 balances! Empty, right where the receiver meets the barrel. About ten years ago, I found a functioning 03A3 in a shop and immediately snatched it up. I can say now that loaded, it balances right over the magazine! I thought it looked different, turns out mine has the removable front sight cover, which was missing on all the old drill rifles. Sadly, while I have a genuine Unertl scope, it lives on my 3-position .22, and I can’t bear to risk altering my 03A3 to try out the combo.
My all-time favorite. At one point I owned 8 '06s in various configurations, lol. It's my favorite cartridge to reload and to shoot. Amazing how long the '06 has remained popular. I'm not sure it's ever been topped.
I got to shoot one of these at a gun range in Vegas years ago. It after struggling to work the bolt and cutting my hand on the scope, I realised I wasn’t quite the sniper I was on MOH Allied Assault.
My Dad tells me he had his sighted in on a head size boulder while on the front lines in Korea while in the army. Your explanation in the earlier video helped me understand why he always insisted he carried an 03-A3 and not an 'A4 during the war. I wonder how he kept it zeroed in since his lieutenant insisted he keep the scope at the camp when he was on patrol. On patrol he would just sight down the barrel since he had no sights. Also said it was not fun having to load cartridges one at a time.
Really an amazing video as always Ian! And i think it's really cool that you actually hear your heartbeat on a sniper video (you can hear that when you really get the control of your breath you start popping targets!) I'm envious of the mad lad that earns this beauty!
Shares many similarities with the Mauser but I would argue it’s not a true Mauser. When you pull them apart and compare the two, it’s almost half Krag, pieces of Mauser, and the rest Springfield’s own design. Yes we paid royalties to Germany, over concern of the patent surrounding the stripper clip that expanded to the rifle itself, but they were over and done with by the war, and only after the war did we have to pay additional moneys due to the patents being stolen from a factory office.
Load 5, turn the magazine off, load singles until the situation demands rapid follow up shots, then get the hell out of there. Also displace after every 2 shots or get shot.
I’ve been looking at the last of the muzzle loading firearms. Most surprising for me is the distance that shooters regularly competed. 1000 yards was a regular shooting distance. Whitworth, Henry and the like had rifled barrels that were effective at 1000. When discussing modern rifles, we talk about sub M.O.A as being significant, yet in 1860’s good shooters were achieving this accuracy. I would be interested in what the Springfield rifle could shoot. Also , how did the mid 18th century marksman achieve 1000 yard effective with open iron sights?
Long barrels 30" and more. And of course, the targets were sized according to the distance. There are still long range competitions at Bisley with classes for muzzle loaders or black powder cartridge rifles, that don't shoot worse than modern guns. Most modern guns there have diopters, no optics because of the class rules.
"Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. - My goodness and my fortress... my high tower and my Deliverer. - My shield, and he in whom I trust." Private Jackson, Saving Private Ryan.
Few years ago at the range we had a Springfield 1903 sniper against a Moisin 91/30 sniper. The 1903 had factory ammo and the Moisin had surplus. To all of our surprise, the Moisin outshot the 1903. At 900 yards, the Moisin was consistently hitting the target, whereas the 1903 barely hit at all. The small, low-power Springfield scope didn’t help. While it wasn’t a scientific test, and perhaps not comparing like-for-like, we all had a go (4 or 5 of us present) and came to the same conclusion. Of the two snipers, we all chose the Moisin but if I had to choose at the outset I would likely have taken the Springfield.
I have a theory about this - my understanding is that the 1903A4's were purpose-built to be snipers from day one. Whereas, with the Mosin PUs, they would select them from regular Mosin 91/30 rifles that were particularly accurate, and then turn them into PU sniper rifles.
I have a 1903A3 that came back from Europe with the Brazilian expeditionary force and after many years it was sold at an auction for collectors. It has fantastic accuracy and is one of my favorites in the shooting range.
Always liked the A4 since seeing SPR years ago. Managed to buy an 'almost' NOS Weaver 330 in the original box at a thrift store last year, but still need the M1903. Oh well...
It’s a small pleasure for me to see you are left handed with your rifle; I used to be myself; but unfortunately I’ve lost use of my left hand from injury.
Huh, you can hear in some clips, particularly the 1st one, Ian's heart beat, and it gets a bit slower just before the shots. Then the last shots are a bit more hasty (or so it seems) and the heartbeat sounds pretty much consistent for these. Interesting!
That’s the thing that bothered me about the great sniper scene in “Saving Private Ryan.” Jackson swaps his scope, doesn’t re-zero it, and manages to shoot the German sniper through the eye.
Yeah but Barry Pepper is the worlds greatest sniper. He could have taken out that Jerry by throwing a rock over his shoulder with his eyes closed, at 6000yds 😂
After that they send him to Battlefield Earth where he showed us his Harrier Pilot Skills with Harriers straight out of Storage after 1000 Years. Miracle Weapons with a great Shelf Life.
One of the rear base screws, the left I believe, would be staked in place after it was zeroed. That way the scope could be removed and replaced without losing your zero.
I'm so glad he mentioned tho not his name but the character Private Jackson who was a left handed sniper for the Ranger in the Saving Private Ryan movie
Back in 1974, I paid $125 for a Remington made '03A3 in unfired condition. I wasn't into shooting rifles then, but I figured I would be in later life. It was 30 years later that I started shooting it. Fantastic accuracy - benchrested- under a 1/2 inch group at 100 yards with my match loads. At a gun show, I met an elderly man who worked at the Springfield Armory during WW2 - and when I told him about the accuracy I experienced, he exclaimed, "Well, we didn't build crap back then!"
It would be awesome to compare the original scope to a reproduction. Have a reproduction that im going to put on a mauser and it feels solid enough but i do wonder how it compares
@@JeepWranglerIslander some no name Chinese manufacturer. Think they're the only one's making them. Bought it straight from China because it was cheaper than going to through a middle man like optics planet
better glass on the repop..clearer..tricky to set up, and the correct shims that go between the Lyman base and the rifle are expensive and hard to find. for what it is worth this is the procedure I have developed..turn the windage and elevation screws all the way up and to the right, the scope will internally disassemble itself if you go the other way. Then turn them back 1/2 the number of clicks available to center the scope reticle. Mount the scope to the weapon, placing a spud and boresight in the barrel end and level. looking thru the scope to see how far off the elevation needs to be shimmed, and adjust the base screw for gross windage, staking the left screw in place(IIRC) to allow scope removal. You would have to talk to CMP, but I believe that technically it is legal for competition for vintage sniper rifles to not shim the base, thereby creating a 20?MOA base for long distance shooting, depending on shim thickness and placement. For shims, a cleanly washed Coke(or Pepsi if so inclined) can, cut into the right size with cheap Dollar Tree kitchen shears so you don't get in trouble, will provide you with a sizeable amount of approximately .004 to .005 inch shims to bring the base as close as possible in the crosshairs of the scope, and then zero your rifle . Make sure you log in your rifles book the turns from center you made to get there for repeatability. I recommend you call Hi-Lux in California to confirm this as a current and viable setup procedure, so that there is no damage to you optics, as they might have resolved all the issues they had on the older models. Have your scope serial number handy to help them verify date of manufacture, and enjoy a lifetime full of fun shooting. Save your brass and reload for just that rifle for accuracy, I know the old 168gr. green box bullets performed well, check your torque on your action screws, and enjoy yourself. They make deadly hunting rifles for deer and hogs!
Reportedly, Herbert McBride (WW1 sniper extradonaire) preferred side mounted scopes, because when(not if ) they fogged, failed, or otherwise were useless due to lack of field of view, it was a simple matter to transition to iron sights. The Marine Corp model would have been similar due to the fact that Unertl scopes are quickly detachable. I know a few left-handed shooters, but I've never seen someone shoot lefty from position . You should do a follow up video, " shooting opposite handed rifles from position". Usually , I've seen shooters reach over with their strong hand to manipulate the bolt, breaking cheek weld in the process. Using your weak hand almost looks better, you have a more consistent cheek weld. From a barricade you may even be faster than a right handed person, leave the forend on the rest/ barricade, & keep up a higher rate of fire. Great video 👍
IIRC, McBride got into trouble at one point for modifying his Warner-Swassey on his Ross MKIII by making shims from Gillette razor blades for gross adjustments, and then, because the prismatic scopes would loosen under fire, he and other snipers would urinate on the mount to get it to rust in place..definately not in the TOE..
Since last video I've been wondering if the rifle used in Medal of Honor Allied Assault (and first chapters in general) is a 03A4 or a Marines' 03A1 or possibly a mix of the two, 'cause I remember and I see a big scope mount with a magnification superior to 2.5x in my memories and in gameplay
I shot hundreds of rounds through a Remmington sniper from WW2 and it was so-so the rifle was never issued but the well used Moison shot circles around it, the Moison did not have a scope but was a far superior sniper rifle!
I have same scope type called a Weber on my 22 cz lux rifle and at 100 yrds never miss those yacolt digestive white gut bottles as they roll down ..pop up they go down up small what fun cross thin but good😊
I borrowed a sporterized '03 from a friend's dad when we went hunting one season (he wanted to sell it for cheap and I will say it was a beautiful rifle!). We all harvested deer on the hunt as there were several of us. I came home got settled took the meat over to my parents freezer ( they were thrilled 😁) And proceeded to clean the '03. Dad carried an early '03 before WWII, and asked me about it.... I was truthful with him. It's a great fast handling, hard hitting, heavy - ish weapon. He was like WOT? '03's are pretty handy. Not this one, Dad and I handed it to him. He was like Good Lord this is a log. I said look at the stock, this looks like birch heartwood... He went and got his rifle kit and pulled out the action screws and sure enough that's what it was..... The Old Man taught us how to shoot on his '03 and at 7 I remember that it was a great handy battle rifle. I took it back to my friends Dad and told him I'd think about buying it and never did, scope and all. I was young, and Dad weighed it with moms canning scale and it tipped in at almost 11 pounds of heartwood. That's why Big Paul was trying to sell it. It was a Springfield Armory conversion....Govt. contract crapola. Lololol 🤣. I bought a Stainless and Walnut Ruger M77 in .30-06 Sprfld instead. A whole lot lighter. An odd Bird but Much fun, much game!😊
Would like to see you re-visit the 1940 6.5mm Carcano 91/38. Attempt the same or better performance under similar conditions. Or even better, have a guest shooter assist in a competition between the two.
Does this extend to your Canadian friends as well? I've been watching your channel for years and you're actually the reason I started collecting myself. I've always loved your content so thanks for everything you've done and for all the information you've taught us.
The point to be made isn't just about nostalgia of this platform. It's that a sniper rifle has a enclosed barrel and still shoots straight after 100 years. Disproves the floating barrel argument.
Nice to see a version of my dad's ww2 rifle in action. His I'm sure was a standard issue, he never said anything about being a sniper, although apparently it made a good anti sniper rifle, one of his stories was his outfit was pinned down by a German sniper, he saw movement in a tree, shot, and as was the custom of the time went to get souvenirs, they found it was a woman, this bothered him until he died.
I met the Great-Grandson of famous U-Boat Commander, Otto Kretschmer. His Great-Grandfather on the other side of his family were Jewish and migrated to S.Africa before war ever kicked off. Ended up fighting for S.Africa as a Sniper in Italy and used to claim the dogtags of his victims. Kept them as souvenirs, amongst other things after the war apparently.
appropriate uniform for the 158th RCT "Bushmasters" AZNG. as well as the 1st, 4th,9th, 90th Divisions. I'm a righty but honestly I wonder if firing lefty, cycling the bolt with the right while mounted would be an improvement.
Must have been a pain for the designated marksman / sniper army soldier, if they were issued the ammunition pre loaded on stripper clips, having to remove them from the clip to load. But having them on the clips in the ammunition pouches was probably easier way to carry extra / spare ammunition.
Most WW2 sniper rifles had the same issue, because they were all converted from stripper fed rifles, so you had to single load. Only the Enfield could be loaded differently (theoretically) if you carried spare box mags for it, but the British never issued spare mags, just clips. So even Enfield snipers loaded the same way. I guess the thought was that snipers wouldn't need to reload in a hurry. If you can't get the job done in 5-10 shots, then you have no business being a sniper 😂
I think that if you were to keep shooting from the one place you would attract attention. The kind of attention that shortens the number of days you will be paid.
Day of Defeat: Source was the thing I grew up with that I remember this from... Actually, I did grow up with the original Day of Defeat, but I most remember this from Source.
My understanding is that the "scant" stocks were made using stock blanks on hand for a British rifle contract that never went forward. These would have semi pistol grips similar to the SMLE. Once the contract was canceled, the now surplus blanks were adapted for the various 1903 series rifles, including the O3A4.
Would have like to have seen you try running the bolt with your left hand a few more times like Private Jackson in SPR. Super awkward! First time I saw the movie (as a lefty shooter) I was like WTF is he doing?
What always bothered me about jackson in saving private ryan is he clocks the bolt by reaching over the scope with is left hand instead of using his right
First center fire rifle I fired. In college a disabled Vietnam vet next door had an '03 and used to take me out to a strip mine to shoot. Then he taught me how to reload.
That’s pretty wholesome! I’d love to shoot an 03 someday. It appears to be tough to rechamber though…
@@ZombieSlayerBO2Why would you rechamber it anyways?
@@Tunkkisi think he means chamber a new round not like make tje rifle fire something else
Love those old war horses! I’ve got a A3 and love it. I also have a life long romance with the Caliber 30 M1917 but the Springfield was and still is just a different kind of beautiful. Lighter, shorter, easier to maneuver and easier to pick up a sight picture
@@nullvoid3677 Let's hope this is the case.
I so regret not buying an original A4 back in the 80s or 90s. Were still a little pricy, but not like they are now.
Your not alone. I gave away a bunch of surplus bolt actions before Y2K. I don't feel to bad though. Almost everyone I gifted a rifle to still shoots regularly.
@@charlessalmond7076 I suppose sharing the hobby and exercising rights is a worthy endeavor as well. I still cherish my gifted rifles.
I gave $125 for one...and a friend begged me to buy it. I sold and he promised when he died it would come back to me... Of course, it didn't. I couldn't replace it for less than $1k. It was in almost pristine condition.
Oh you ain't wrong. I did buy a lot of guns back than. Unfortunately I sold them. And with my recent loss due to burglary, I'm kinda nostalgic about it.
02:00 it's cool how you can hear Ian's hearthbeat slow down when he prepares to take the shot
For these long range videos it feels like we should have a second camera down range on the targets. So we have footage of Ian operating the gun and we have footage of whatever Ian is reacting to down range
I rescued a sporterized 03A3 they used the original scope mount so I built it into a sniper found an original A4 scant stock, repro A4 bolt body and a NOS 5 groove barrel and it shoots .6” groups regularly
Did same I used handloads with 175 SMK same size groups
Based. And yea, can’t get better than the 03A3!
Weren't they 2 groove barrels by the A3? The 5 grooves were the older version I thought
My Dad gave me his "sporterized" version. Stamp says '43
Quarters at 200 all day
It’s been fun to see Ian get progressively stronger and more accurate at shooting over the years 😊
We had de-milled 03A3 drill rifles in ROTC at my high school. What you can’t get from the video is how beautifully the 03A3 balances! Empty, right where the receiver meets the barrel.
About ten years ago, I found a functioning 03A3 in a shop and immediately snatched it up. I can say now that loaded, it balances right over the magazine! I thought it looked different, turns out mine has the removable front sight cover, which was missing on all the old drill rifles.
Sadly, while I have a genuine Unertl scope, it lives on my 3-position .22, and I can’t bear to risk altering my 03A3 to try out the combo.
That 30-06 is such a nice shooting cartridge.
My all-time favorite. At one point I owned 8 '06s in various configurations, lol. It's my favorite cartridge to reload and to shoot. Amazing how long the '06 has remained popular. I'm not sure it's ever been topped.
I got to shoot one of these at a gun range in Vegas years ago. It after struggling to work the bolt and cutting my hand on the scope, I realised I wasn’t quite the sniper I was on MOH Allied Assault.
I've used it on MOH Airborne,
I'm prolly not the sniper I am on that either
(Edit) I've also always wanted to shoot one of these
My Dad tells me he had his sighted in on a head size boulder while on the front lines in Korea while in the army. Your explanation in the earlier video helped me understand why he always insisted he carried an 03-A3 and not an 'A4 during the war. I wonder how he kept it zeroed in since his lieutenant insisted he keep the scope at the camp when he was on patrol. On patrol he would just sight down the barrel since he had no sights. Also said it was not fun having to load cartridges one at a time.
0:08 I'm afraid the French M1951 helmet gives the game away there Ian! 😁
Thx, could not take my eyes away from that helmet… now my mind is at ease.
Yep. I thought as much.
I thought he had an M1 helmet on backwards.
can't take my eyes away from the helmet too lmao
@@stephenbinion6348 The M1 helmet is on backwards
Really an amazing video as always Ian! And i think it's really cool that you actually hear your heartbeat on a sniper video (you can hear that when you really get the control of your breath you start popping targets!)
I'm envious of the mad lad that earns this beauty!
I would love to see a tour of Ian's period uniform and accessories collection. It's got to fill a whole room.
About to head to the range for a bachelor party. Perfect way to start the day.
I've always wanted to get an M1903, it has quite the fun history as an American clone of the Mauser.
So much so Mauser sued them for making it
@@charlesnewby3449 The U.S. paid royalties to Mauser, even during WWI.
Shares many similarities with the Mauser but I would argue it’s not a true Mauser. When you pull them apart and compare the two, it’s almost half Krag, pieces of Mauser, and the rest Springfield’s own design. Yes we paid royalties to Germany, over concern of the patent surrounding the stripper clip that expanded to the rifle itself, but they were over and done with by the war, and only after the war did we have to pay additional moneys due to the patents being stolen from a factory office.
My first center fire rifle was a Springfield 1903 in 1987
Load 5, turn the magazine off, load singles until the situation demands rapid follow up shots, then get the hell out of there. Also displace after every 2 shots or get shot.
8:17
Ian "Of course now they've stopped moving"
Misses
I’ve been looking at the last of the muzzle loading firearms. Most surprising for me is the distance that shooters regularly competed. 1000 yards was a regular shooting distance. Whitworth, Henry and the like had rifled barrels that were effective at 1000.
When discussing modern rifles, we talk about sub M.O.A as being significant, yet in 1860’s good shooters were achieving this accuracy. I would be interested in what the Springfield rifle could shoot. Also , how did the mid 18th century marksman achieve 1000 yard effective with open iron sights?
Magic. Feel. Intuition. Pure spite? idk ^^
Practice old bean. Lots of practice with the SAME gun.....
@@Rincypoopoo with the current cost of centerfire ammunition , muzzle loaders might be the best way to do lots of blasting.
Long barrels 30" and more. And of course, the targets were sized according to the distance. There are still long range competitions at Bisley with classes for muzzle loaders or black powder cartridge rifles, that don't shoot worse than modern guns. Most modern guns there have diopters, no optics because of the class rules.
"Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. - My goodness and my fortress... my high tower and my Deliverer. - My shield, and he in whom I trust." Private Jackson, Saving Private Ryan.
and/or Psalm 144:1 😁
@@micahholley1446really?
It’s sad the german SPG (which doesn’t have that much gun elevation) got him.
"I am the way, and the light. Though, occasionally, the light is a muzzle flash." - Gun Jesus
PARKER GET DOWN!!!
Few years ago at the range we had a Springfield 1903 sniper against a Moisin 91/30 sniper. The 1903 had factory ammo and the Moisin had surplus. To all of our surprise, the Moisin outshot the 1903. At 900 yards, the Moisin was consistently hitting the target, whereas the 1903 barely hit at all. The small, low-power Springfield scope didn’t help. While it wasn’t a scientific test, and perhaps not comparing like-for-like, we all had a go (4 or 5 of us present) and came to the same conclusion. Of the two snipers, we all chose the Moisin but if I had to choose at the outset I would likely have taken the Springfield.
Very cool anecdote, thanks for sharing
The PU sniper was one of the best of its time. It’s a great sniper rifle.
I have a theory about this - my understanding is that the 1903A4's were purpose-built to be snipers from day one. Whereas, with the Mosin PUs, they would select them from regular Mosin 91/30 rifles that were particularly accurate, and then turn them into PU sniper rifles.
Factory ammo is not appropriate ammo. The rifle was designed to shoot 30 cal. No, they are not the same thing.
Factory ammo is not appropriate ammo. The rifle was designed to shoot 30 cal. No, they are not the same thing.
we can hear his heartbeat through the mic, damn, that´s one impressive mic.
I have a 1903A3 that came back from Europe with the Brazilian expeditionary force and after many years it was sold at an auction for collectors. It has fantastic accuracy and is one of my favorites in the shooting range.
can hear your heartbeat when you were laying down to shoot. that is some impressive pickup on the microphone i must say while not peaking
at 2:02 you can clearly hear ian's heartbeat 🙂
And then bye bye eardrum😋
I assumed that it was more likely the heartbeat of the person operating the camera...?
Ian did not have an early WWII helmet so the French helmet is close enough to the stuff in use 1941.
Was wondering, Belgium or french.
Also the South African M63 "Staaldak", based on French M51. Dented easily.
@@scottrobinson3281 Dented easily by lead and other elements.
This together with the Arisaka are my favourite WW1-WW2 rifles.
I inherited an A3 model a few years ago, and it remains my second favorite rifle ever to fiddle with.
Very enjoyable video. Also, Ian is wearing the fiber liner of the French helmet Model 1951 of the Indochina and Algerian Wars.
I turned an 03A3 sporter into a fake A4 and went with the a Weaver K2.5 for glass. Easily one of my favorite rifles to shoot
did you replace the barrel and stock?
Interesting that you can hear his heartbeat whilst shooting (with headphones)
I have a clone of this weapon from Gibbs ... lots of fun at the range - mine is a 1942 Remington with the reproduction scope.
I talked to the guy that built them, and he set the chambers a tad tight to help with the accuracy, so some ammo my seem like it is too long..
Always liked the A4 since seeing SPR years ago. Managed to buy an 'almost' NOS Weaver 330 in the original box at a thrift store last year, but still need the M1903. Oh well...
was it a 330C or 330S scope? I wonder how hard it would be to convert if you found a clapped out C model?
Watching other people shoot makes me realize i suck at shooting.
But it's great to see other people with iconic firearms in great condition.
I really wish you would show down range while you’re shooting. Like a picture in picture view or some such.
It’s a small pleasure for me to see you are left handed with your rifle; I used to be myself; but unfortunately I’ve lost use of my left hand from injury.
Huh, you can hear in some clips, particularly the 1st one, Ian's heart beat, and it gets a bit slower just before the shots. Then the last shots are a bit more hasty (or so it seems) and the heartbeat sounds pretty much consistent for these. Interesting!
That’s the thing that bothered me about the great sniper scene in “Saving Private Ryan.” Jackson swaps his scope, doesn’t re-zero it, and manages to shoot the German sniper through the eye.
I'll be discussing that next week... ;)
Yeah but Barry Pepper is the worlds greatest sniper. He could have taken out that Jerry by throwing a rock over his shoulder with his eyes closed, at 6000yds 😂
@@caeserromero3013 hilarious comment 😂
After that they send him to Battlefield Earth where he showed us his Harrier Pilot Skills with Harriers straight out of Storage after 1000 Years. Miracle Weapons with a great Shelf Life.
@@rainerbehrendt9330 If Martians ever invade the Falklands, Barry can send them right back in his trusty Harrier :)
My dad carried an M1903A4 into the Bulge. Thanks for this look at his piece.
One of the rear base screws, the left I believe, would be staked in place after it was zeroed. That way the scope could be removed and replaced without losing your zero.
watching Ian shoot always gets my bloodpresure up so stressful but love it every time
I'm so glad he mentioned tho not his name but the character Private Jackson who was a left handed sniper for the Ranger in the Saving Private Ryan movie
I guess we know whats coming up on 9 hole any day now
Back in 1974, I paid $125 for a Remington made '03A3 in unfired condition. I wasn't into shooting rifles then, but I figured I would be in later life. It was 30 years later that I started shooting it.
Fantastic accuracy - benchrested- under a 1/2 inch group at 100 yards with my match loads.
At a gun show, I met an elderly man who worked at the Springfield Armory during WW2 - and when I told him about the accuracy I experienced, he exclaimed, "Well, we didn't build crap back then!"
It would be awesome to compare the original scope to a reproduction. Have a reproduction that im going to put on a mauser and it feels solid enough but i do wonder how it compares
Where'd you get the repro scope from? I have an 03-A4 in need of one!
@@JeepWranglerIslander some no name Chinese manufacturer. Think they're the only one's making them. Bought it straight from China because it was cheaper than going to through a middle man like optics planet
better glass on the repop..clearer..tricky to set up, and the correct shims that go between the Lyman base and the rifle are expensive and hard to find. for what it is worth this is the procedure I have developed..turn the windage and elevation screws all the way up and to the right, the scope will internally disassemble itself if you go the other way. Then turn them back 1/2 the number of clicks available to center the scope reticle. Mount the scope to the weapon, placing a spud and boresight in the barrel end and level. looking thru the scope to see how far off the elevation needs to be shimmed, and adjust the base screw for gross windage, staking the left screw in place(IIRC) to allow scope removal.
You would have to talk to CMP, but I believe that technically it is legal for competition for vintage sniper rifles to not shim the base, thereby creating a 20?MOA base for long distance shooting, depending on shim thickness and placement. For shims, a cleanly washed Coke(or Pepsi if so inclined) can, cut into the right size with cheap Dollar Tree kitchen shears so you don't get in trouble, will provide you with a sizeable amount of approximately .004 to .005 inch shims to bring the base as close as possible in the crosshairs of the scope, and then zero your rifle . Make sure you log in your rifles book the turns from center you made to get there for repeatability. I recommend you call Hi-Lux in California to confirm this as a current and viable setup procedure, so that there is no damage to you optics, as they might have resolved all the issues they had on the older models. Have your scope serial number handy to help them verify date of manufacture, and enjoy a lifetime full of fun shooting. Save your brass and reload for just that rifle for accuracy, I know the old 168gr. green box bullets performed well, check your torque on your action screws, and enjoy yourself. They make deadly hunting rifles for deer and hogs!
Awesome shooting partner.
Look at that comfortably padding! Great content 👌
Reportedly, Herbert McBride (WW1 sniper extradonaire) preferred side mounted scopes, because when(not if ) they fogged, failed, or otherwise were useless due to lack of field of view, it was a simple matter to transition to iron sights. The Marine Corp model would have been similar due to the fact that Unertl scopes are quickly detachable. I know a few left-handed shooters, but I've never seen someone shoot lefty from position . You should do a follow up video, " shooting opposite handed rifles from position". Usually , I've seen shooters reach over with their strong hand to manipulate the bolt, breaking cheek weld in the process. Using your weak hand almost looks better, you have a more consistent cheek weld. From a barricade you may even be faster than a right handed person, leave the forend on the rest/ barricade, & keep up a higher rate of fire. Great video 👍
IIRC, McBride got into trouble at one point for modifying his Warner-Swassey on his Ross MKIII by making shims from Gillette razor blades for gross adjustments, and then, because the prismatic scopes would loosen under fire, he and other snipers would urinate on the mount to get it to rust in place..definately not in the TOE..
Love those old battle rifles..ive always wanted an 03 springfield..by the way Ian,hello from florida,i always your videos
Great bolt racking there! I'm a leftie too, must be knackering without a rest for the barrel though!
Since last video I've been wondering if the rifle used in Medal of Honor Allied Assault (and first chapters in general) is a 03A4 or a Marines' 03A1 or possibly a mix of the two, 'cause I remember and I see a big scope mount with a magnification superior to 2.5x in my memories and in gameplay
Thanks
I shot hundreds of rounds through a Remmington sniper from WW2 and it was so-so the rifle was never issued but the well used Moison shot circles around it, the Moison did not have a scope but was a far superior sniper rifle!
I swear some of these videos are produced by Ian as a chance to flex his uniform collection.....
I have same scope type called a Weber on my 22 cz lux rifle and at 100 yrds never miss those yacolt digestive white gut bottles as they roll down ..pop up they go down up small what fun cross thin but good😊
I borrowed a sporterized '03 from a friend's dad when we went hunting one season (he wanted to sell it for cheap and I will say it was a beautiful rifle!). We all harvested deer on the hunt as there were several of us.
I came home got settled took the meat over to my parents freezer ( they were thrilled 😁)
And proceeded to clean the '03. Dad carried an early '03 before WWII, and asked me about it....
I was truthful with him. It's a great fast handling, hard hitting, heavy - ish weapon. He was like WOT? '03's are pretty handy. Not this one, Dad and I handed it to him.
He was like Good Lord this is a log.
I said look at the stock, this looks like birch heartwood...
He went and got his rifle kit and pulled out the action screws and sure enough that's what it was.....
The Old Man taught us how to shoot on his '03 and at 7 I remember that it was a great handy battle rifle.
I took it back to my friends Dad and told him I'd think about buying it and never did, scope and all.
I was young, and Dad weighed it with moms canning scale and it tipped in at almost 11 pounds of heartwood.
That's why Big Paul was trying to sell it. It was a Springfield Armory conversion....Govt. contract crapola. Lololol 🤣.
I bought a Stainless and Walnut Ruger M77 in .30-06 Sprfld instead. A whole lot lighter. An odd Bird but Much fun, much game!😊
Legend has it that Private Jackson was actually praying to gun Jesus in that bell tower 🙏🏼
Made me laugh hard this one😂
The Weaver scope had condensation probelems in Europe also. The Winter of 1944/5 was very cold.
Ahhh that special feeling in your shoulder the night after prone shooting a metal butt plate milsurp all arvo. Reminds you that you're alive.....
Why didn't You move back? I have an O3A3 with a BSA 16x. It was great at 350 yards. A head hit every time. My favorite rifle !!!!!!! Rock on Ian.
Nothing like an Ian range video during a sedate nightshift. Cheers again for all you do!
Would like to see you re-visit the 1940 6.5mm Carcano 91/38. Attempt the same or better performance under similar conditions. Or even better, have a guest shooter assist in a competition between the two.
Ian, we can here your heart beat because of the mic placement
Nice French steel pot! Enjoyed the video. I do like the Marine Corps version a bit better other than needing to re-set the scope after each shot.
Does this extend to your Canadian friends as well? I've been watching your channel for years and you're actually the reason I started collecting myself. I've always loved your content so thanks for everything you've done and for all the information you've taught us.
Sorry, but no.
@@ForgottenWeapons that's what I thought. Thanks though and I still love the content! Looks like an amazing rifle.
As a left hander myself I always wondered if the Remington Rolling Block would have been a nice ambidextrous sniper rifle. Even if it was single shot
I don't see why it wouldn't. From what I've heard that's actually a more accurate action.
I have my grandfather's Remington 03A3 and it's still kicking at .5 MOA
Not sure if you noticed during editing, but your lav mic was actually pushed so close to your chest that I can hear your heartbeat.
the Lefty bolting allways looked cooler to me.
The point to be made isn't just about nostalgia of this platform. It's that a sniper rifle has a enclosed barrel and still shoots straight after 100 years. Disproves the floating barrel argument.
I did enjoy. You are the best on U Tube .
Can tell you had your mic on your chest as while wearing headphones I could hear your heartbeat!
Great to see fire the rifle!🤗
I have a Remington 1903A3, it's a great rifle. 👍
30.06, America's REAL Battle round!
Love the heart beat microphone 😅
Ah, the sniper from Day of Defeat.
Nice to see a version of my dad's ww2 rifle in action. His I'm sure was a standard issue, he never said anything about being a sniper, although apparently it made a good anti sniper rifle, one of his stories was his outfit was pinned down by a German sniper, he saw movement in a tree, shot, and as was the custom of the time went to get souvenirs, they found it was a woman, this bothered him until he died.
I met the Great-Grandson of famous U-Boat Commander, Otto Kretschmer. His Great-Grandfather on the other side of his family were Jewish and migrated to S.Africa before war ever kicked off. Ended up fighting for S.Africa as a Sniper in Italy and used to claim the dogtags of his victims. Kept them as souvenirs, amongst other things after the war apparently.
The Marine, with use of the sling, is the bi-pod
I have one just like it! (Without the scope ) was military surplus
Stop wearing out the barrel of MY rifle!
Love that 30-06 !!
you can hear his heartbeat omg
appropriate uniform for the 158th RCT "Bushmasters" AZNG. as well as the 1st, 4th,9th, 90th Divisions. I'm a righty but honestly I wonder if firing lefty, cycling the bolt with the right while mounted would be an improvement.
Must have been a pain for the designated marksman / sniper army soldier, if they were issued the ammunition pre loaded on stripper clips, having to remove them from the clip to load. But having them on the clips in the ammunition pouches was probably easier way to carry extra / spare ammunition.
Of course Ian is wearing a TTA type 51 French helmet. Because of course he is.
At least someone else noticed this
The ponytail hanging out from under the brain bucket is priceless
Love the authoritative BOOM of the 30-06 coupled with minimal recoil of this rifle.
Put me up to and including 1 mile of Abedolph Lincoler...
Am I trippin or did I just hear your heartbeat through the mic? 2:00
felt like Sniper Elite series
Most WW2 sniper rifles had the same issue, because they were all converted from stripper fed rifles, so you had to single load. Only the Enfield could be loaded differently (theoretically) if you carried spare box mags for it, but the British never issued spare mags, just clips. So even Enfield snipers loaded the same way. I guess the thought was that snipers wouldn't need to reload in a hurry. If you can't get the job done in 5-10 shots, then you have no business being a sniper 😂
I believe the mosin and one of the K98 sniper variants could be stripper fed because the scope was offset.
It wouldn't be too difficult for a British soldier to get a few spare magazines after a battle.
Pop the mag out, load 10 rounds way fast, pop it back in is the fastest way to reload a n°4 T in my experience if you have a single mag
@@brockgundich The Mosin PU scope isn't offset, it just has a really tall mount. Unfortunately not tall enough to actually allow you to use clips.
I think that if you were to keep shooting from the one place you would attract attention. The kind of attention that shortens the number of days you will be paid.
'The Marines got the good ones'. Man, that's a rarity! The Marines usually got the leftovers.
I own a US Remington 1903 .. still has Cosmoline .. never been fired .. has never had a Sling on it, was purchased out of Armory.
Day of Defeat: Source was the thing I grew up with that I remember this from...
Actually, I did grow up with the original Day of Defeat, but I most remember this from Source.
Thank s!!!
"The army goes to war and they bring everything. Marines, Marines make do."
That heart beat audio tho.
My understanding is that the "scant" stocks were made using stock blanks on hand for a British rifle contract that never went forward. These would have semi pistol grips similar to the SMLE. Once the contract was canceled, the now surplus blanks were adapted for the various 1903 series rifles, including the O3A4.
Would have like to have seen you try running the bolt with your left hand a few more times like Private Jackson in SPR. Super awkward! First time I saw the movie (as a lefty shooter) I was like WTF is he doing?
What always bothered me about jackson in saving private ryan is he clocks the bolt by reaching over the scope with is left hand instead of using his right