Re-barreling the M1903A3 Rifle in .308 Winchester

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 3/12/20 | F Jardim

[w1n1]

A step-by-step guide for replacing the barrel of a deactivated war trophy rifle.
Over the years I've seen many otherwise fine rifles with poor barrels sell cheap because barrels are usually the most expensive part on the gun and the gunsmith’s labor to install it was never going to be less than a C-note for the most simple replacement job.
Vintage 20th century bolt-action military rifles are among the easiest and most economical to re-barrel. It's not particularly hard, as long as you have a replacement barrel and the right tools. Though you can change a barrel with a bench vise and a pipe wrench, to do the job like a pro requires a pro’s tools.

Your savings in gunsmith labor will pay off the investment in the first two or three jobs. My first job was a .308 Winchester conversion of a reclaimed DEWAT (deactivated war trophy) M1903A3 Springfield drill rifle I bought from the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) many years ago. THE 1903A3 IS one of the easiest guns to re-barrel. A lot of this has to do with the availability of excellent quality replacement barrels from Criterion Barrels (criterionbarrels.com). The CMP uses Criterion barrels in their restoration shop and after installing thousands of them, has never had one fail to index properly. Criterion actually makes barrels for all the American service rifles, from the Krag to the AR-15, and a couple British guns too. Their barrels are match grade quality at a bargain price, thanks to a highly refined manufacturing process.

The 1903A3 barrel costs $219.99 and is a direct replacement for the original, lacking only the U.S. Army Ordnance roll stamp. The threads are properly timed and the mark stamped on the side; the extractor slot and front sight key are cut, and the barrel is parkerized. All you need to do is screw it on and set the headspace. Since the barrel has to index in a specific spot to keep the front sight properly oriented, the barrels are all short chambered by .010 inches so they can be finish headspaced to suit your rifle.

Criterion was a pioneer in the development of match grade button rifling. They do all their barrel machining operations in-house, including finishing their own rifling buttons. Before the bore of the barrel blank is rifled, it is lapped to remove tool marks until mirror smooth. When the rifling button is drawn through, by a custom-built CNC machine, the resulting lands and grooves are consistently uniform. Their ordnance-grade 4150 chrome moly barrel steel is stress relieved before and after the rifling process to maintain dimensional integrity during machining.
The specialty tools required for this project were an action wrench, chamber reamer and headspace gauges. You’ll also need some quality sulfur-based cutting oil like Brownells Universal Do-Drill. The vise and wrench need to be bought or made, but the reamers and gauges can be rented from several companies for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them if you don't see yourself doing another gun in the same caliber again. Read the rest of re-barreling M1903A3 rifle.

[eartick]

FINALLY, a post that is not about the “virus”. Thanks

[LIConFem]

Why rebarrel?? Is the original barrel infected??

Sorry.. couldn’t resist.

[Dusty Road]

Why was it rebarreled and why the 308?

[eartick]

Thanks for the great article. I am going to check with Criterion on a 22-250 barrel for one of my older rifles. I am pretty sure it is shot out and I need to replace.

Used to be a tack driver but alas it is starting to wonder around.

[9422WMR]

Some of the originals have two groove rifling. For the newbie it looks like the bore is shot out. You have to have a barrel gauge to check amount of wear, or stick a live round bullet first in the discharge end of the barrel. It it stops before the case touched the muzzle you’re probably good. If the bullet goes in until the case hits the muzzle then it’s shot out.

[Yo-Yo]

Why rebarreled? Presumably it was because it was a “deactivated war trophy” which usually means the barrel is welded closed.

Why .308? Ammunition costs and availability, especially military surplus 7.62 NATO, makes it more economical to shoot than the original .30-06 chambering.

[real saxophonist]

It’s the “AM Shitting Urinal” virus.

[Bonemaker]

No thanks...I’ll leave mine a 30 06.

[yarddog]

I had a 1917 Enfield which had a rusted and/or shot out barrel. I had a gunsmith in Pensacola rebarrel it in the same caliber.

When I went to pick it up, the smith apologized saying it was not very accurate tho the headspace etc. was perfect.

When I got it home, it consistently shot very small groups.I have no idea what the gunsmith was shooting.

[magyars4]

Gotta agree, and if it’s shot out and needs rebarreling...keep it in 30-06. The long bolt throw may cause feeding issues with a shorter cartridge.

[mylife]

Exactly, Rechamber.

[GingisK]

Oh, Good God! Keep that rifle in its original condition unless the barrel is shot out. They are quite valuable. They are also really accurate and hard hitting.

I bought an 03A3 for $125 in something like 1980. It had been appraised at $1400. If you want a .308, buy a new one. Don't destroy an important artifact.

[Hiddigeigei]

The article mentioned “deactivated war trophy.” I guess the government screwed up the barrel before selling it on the civilian market or it had been shot out. In the Washington High School cadets, we marched with 1903 Springfields that had the firing pins removed. In army basic, I was issued a M1 Garand that had been shot out. The bore was like a mirror; no trace of rifling. It had some other problems, but at least fired.

[RitchieAprile]

I had my 4/43 03A3 rebarreled with a original GI new barrel
dated 9/43 I bought on Gunbroker. Hope that didn’t ruin its collectibility.

[GingisK]

Nah, the new one was GI of the same vintage. Besides, I won’t let anybody have mine, so is collector’s value is not an issue. I will have trouble fitting everything into my mausoleum.

[Manly Warrior]

As a CMP Drill Rifle, It was demilled- the chamber welded, barrel tac welded to the receiver, the mag cut off welded, the bolt face welded and the FP cut off- IOW , a nonfiring rifle.

I did not read the whole article, but it actually restoring a demilled CMP drill rifle is a bit more detailed than a simple rebarrel. New bolt at minimum, after carefully milling away the mag cut-off/bolt stop and re drilling/tapping for a new set of parts, and that’s just to be able to pull the old welded bolt....

Not sure why going to a 308, but hey, its his rifle.

[Sparticus]

Have you tried to really clean the bore to remove all copper fouling? Also, might want to check the stock bedding.

[Dutch Boy]

The first rifle larger than a .22 I ever shot was a M1903. I don’t remember the revision. I do remember that at about 12 or 13 it kicked like a mule.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I can’t figure out what rifles want, much less women. Some mysteries are never to be solved, just enjoyed.