Anyone Handload for Their 03 Rifle?

Iron_Colonel · 10-29-2009, 12:19 AM

I have a bunch of .30-06 brass, and was wondering if anyone else here reloads for it. If so, do you have a recommended bullet type, weight, or powder charge?

What bullet weight did these guns shoot most during military service? I would mainly be shooting it to kill paper. However, if I did want to take it hunting, is the factory loaded soft point stuff too hot of a load for the 03? Will it create too high of pressures? Or can any factory loaded soft point ammo be safely shot out of the 03 not having to worry about too high of chamber pressures?

Any info or links would be appreciated. Thanks to all who posted on my other post with all the good info

M14man · 10-29-2009, 05:21 PM

A lot of people that shoot their 30:06 reload. The military used 150 grain bullets with some weights like AP 173gr or M118 in that 173 gr range. I use about 46 grains of 4895 for the 150 grain load so I can use these loads in the Garand also.
All commercial ammo for 30:06 is safe in the bolt action 03 while not necessarily good for the garand.
My 03's and Garand shoot real well with the bulk bullets in the 165 grain range. Not to expensive, and shoot better than military ball. The best bullets (MatchKing) may be too expensive to be worth it unless you enter competitions.

MJ11 · 10-29-2009, 08:26 PM

Yes

Much like the above loads.

....;-)......

Plumber · 10-29-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Colonel

I have a bunch of .30-06 brass, and was wondering if anyone else here reloads for it. If so, do you have a recommended bullet type, weight, or powder charge?

What bullet weight did these guns shoot most during military service? I would mainly be shooting it to kill paper. However, if I did want to take it hunting, is the factory loaded soft point stuff too hot of a load for the 03? Will it create too high of pressures? Or can any factory loaded soft point ammo be safely shot out of the 03 not having to worry about too high of chamber pressures?

Any info or links would be appreciated. Thanks to all who posted on my other post with all the good info

Iron_Colonel,
Before you load for your '03 springfield check the sierial no. Springfield Armory receivers under 800,000 may be unsafe. Rock Island Arsenal '03 receivers under 285,500 may be unsafe. They were made using a one step hardening prosess. The newer guns were made using a follow-up tempering prosess. Good luck.

M14man · 10-29-2009, 10:02 PM

Plumber good call, but a few posts before this one, he describes it as a 1937 made receiver..

Iron_Colonel · 10-30-2009, 12:59 AM

Well thanks for the input again. In my first post about my rifle, I did mention that. But the gentleman I bought it from mentioned the 800,000 serial number range and to beware. He didn't have any on his table. I'll have to see how it shoots this weekend. I think I'll take some of the Greek stuff I have for my Garand, and some soft point Federal factory 150 gr. that I bought at Wally's and shoot it this weekend I am hoping.

Another question I have, is the rifling down the barrel. The rifling appears to be quite sharp, and not rounded at all. But the rifling itself doesn't seem very tall. Maybe I will slug the bore and see what kind of readings I get. I don't know if it is hard to tell in the pic in my other post of the bore shot. Any thoughts? I guess the only way to know is to shoot it

Thanks for the replies again!

jmabbott888 · 10-31-2009, 10:57 PM

My 10yr old like to shoot my 03 with 180gr Sierra over 57gr of 4831. Here is a pic of him. Only problem is he shoots left handed, I can't get him to shoot righty lol.

Iron_Colonel · 11-01-2009, 02:57 AM

Well that looks like a C96 type Mauser pistol in the backround. Wonder if it is a real Mauser, or a Chinese knockoff. Well if you're son can shot these guns, then I won't have any problems I hope

But yea, he's doing something backwards

jmabbott888 · 11-01-2009, 01:18 PM

Yea, he shoots backwards but hey, I'm trying lol. He can't fire it offhand yet, still a little heavy for him. The Broomhandle is a Mauser in 9mm, picked up a bolo too but the bolo is shot out big time, chamber & all. I'm looking into getting it relined just to shoot. Both the Bolo & the broomhandle as pretty beat up but still a blast to shoot & the looks you get are great too lol.

cat1870 · 11-16-2009, 07:46 PM

A pard & I are starting to work with our 03A3's using cast bullets.
He's had good luck geting 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds. while I'm getting 3-4" groups at the same.
He's using 16 Grs. of Her. 2400 with a 200 Gr. cast bullet.

10-29-2009, 12:19 AM	#1
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,281	Anyone Handload for Their 03 Rifle? I have a bunch of .30-06 brass, and was wondering if anyone else here reloads for it. If so, do you have a recommended bullet type, weight, or powder charge? What bullet weight did these guns shoot most during military service? I would mainly be shooting it to kill paper. However, if I did want to take it hunting, is the factory loaded soft point stuff too hot of a load for the 03? Will it create too high of pressures? Or can any factory loaded soft point ammo be safely shot out of the 03 not having to worry about too high of chamber pressures? Any info or links would be appreciated. Thanks to all who posted on my other post with all the good info __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

10-30-2009, 12:59 AM	#6
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,281	Well thanks for the input again. In my first post about my rifle, I did mention that. But the gentleman I bought it from mentioned the 800,000 serial number range and to beware. He didn't have any on his table. I'll have to see how it shoots this weekend. I think I'll take some of the Greek stuff I have for my Garand, and some soft point Federal factory 150 gr. that I bought at Wally's and shoot it this weekend I am hoping. Another question I have, is the rifling down the barrel. The rifling appears to be quite sharp, and not rounded at all. But the rifling itself doesn't seem very tall. Maybe I will slug the bore and see what kind of readings I get. I don't know if it is hard to tell in the pic in my other post of the bore shot. Any thoughts? I guess the only way to know is to shoot it Thanks for the replies again! __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

10-31-2009, 10:57 PM	#7
jmabbott888 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bakersfield, Kalifornistan Posts: 27	My 10yr old like to shoot my 03 with 180gr Sierra over 57gr of 4831. Here is a pic of him. Only problem is he shoots left handed, I can't get him to shoot righty lol. Attached Thumbnails

11-01-2009, 02:57 AM	#8
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,281	Well that looks like a C96 type Mauser pistol in the backround. Wonder if it is a real Mauser, or a Chinese knockoff. Well if you're son can shot these guns, then I won't have any problems I hope But yea, he's doing something backwards __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

10-29-2009, 05:21 PM	#2
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 1,162 Images: 10	A lot of people that shoot their 30:06 reload. The military used 150 grain bullets with some weights like AP 173gr or M118 in that 173 gr range. I use about 46 grains of 4895 for the 150 grain load so I can use these loads in the Garand also. All commercial ammo for 30:06 is safe in the bolt action 03 while not necessarily good for the garand. My 03's and Garand shoot real well with the bulk bullets in the 165 grain range. Not to expensive, and shoot better than military ball. The best bullets (MatchKing) may be too expensive to be worth it unless you enter competitions.

10-29-2009, 08:26 PM	#3
MJ11 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 140	Yes Much like the above loads. ....;-)......

10-29-2009, 10:02 PM	#5
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 1,162 Images: 10	Plumber good call, but a few posts before this one, he describes it as a 1937 made receiver..

11-01-2009, 01:18 PM	#9
jmabbott888 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bakersfield, Kalifornistan Posts: 27	Yea, he shoots backwards but hey, I'm trying lol. He can't fire it offhand yet, still a little heavy for him. The Broomhandle is a Mauser in 9mm, picked up a bolo too but the bolo is shot out big time, chamber & all. I'm looking into getting it relined just to shoot. Both the Bolo & the broomhandle as pretty beat up but still a blast to shoot & the looks you get are great too lol.

11-16-2009, 07:46 PM	#10
cat1870 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southwest Utah Posts: 24	A pard & I are starting to work with our 03A3's using cast bullets. He's had good luck geting 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds. while I'm getting 3-4" groups at the same. He's using 16 Grs. of Her. 2400 with a 200 Gr. cast bullet.