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.

[GingisK]

Anyone who disables an 03A3 as a war trophy should be summarily executed.

[eartick]

I have been through the bore with bores scrub (copper remover) but it has not helped any.

I bedded and floated the stock when I first bought the rifle. Have checked it all and looks okay.

Riflings are not pitted. I have ran some really hot loads through it over the years (25+) and think it is time to replace. Thanks for the advice though, appreciate it.

[Manly Warrior]

As usual, some folks play wildly with acronyms that really don’t know much about.

A drill rifle is not a “dewat”, rather it is a deactivated rifle designed for school programs, veterans organization and such.

A dewat would be some foreign rifle brought back by a GI, deactivated as well but not a US rifle....

Details and terminology makes a difference.

[GingisK]

Yeah, I hear you. Clip vs magazine makes me break out in hives.

[yarddog]

I think we have a tendency to over react to clumsy or inaccurate firearms terminology.

It doesn’t bother me when someone says “bullet” when they mean “cartridge”, or “clip” when they mean “magazine”.

I used to watch Roy and Dale hosting some of their old shows, commenting on them. Roy did one time explain why their six shooters fired so many shots. He said they did reload but the film editors spliced scenes together.

I do appreciate it when they get things right tho,

[Redcitizen]

““Human coronaviruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces at room temperature for up to 9 days.”.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronaviruses-how-long-can-they-survive-on-surfaces#How-to-inactivate-coronavirus

Guns will need to be wiped cleaned with a disinfectant.

[eartick]

Guns will need to be wiped cleaned with a disinfectant.

I guess maybe you have not heard of the new CLP out for weapons. Clorox Lysol Protection.

Good stuff

[Redcitizen]

Hahaha!!😁😆 that’s a good one!!

[Horkster]

Hope that didn’t ruin its collectibility.

Only if you sell it.

PS: Never sell it.

:{D>

[real saxophonist]

LOL