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thallub · March 23, 2013, 10:55 AM

i own three low numbered model 1903 rifles, two Springfields and a Rock Island. Two of those guns are sometimes fired with reduced loads.

One of the contributing factors in the destruction of low numbered 1903 rifles was defective ammunition manufactured during WWI. National Copper and Brass made quantities of .30 caliber ammunition with soft cartridge cases. Much of the substandard .30 caliber ammunition manufactured during WWI remained in stockpile up to WWII.

Heres a good writeup on the low numbered 1903 rifles:

http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

A ruptured cartridge case in a 1903 Springfield, 1917 Enfield or a Winchester model 70 can be a traumatic event. Yep, a model 70 Winchester: i was present on a firing range when the beautiful pre-64 model 70 at the next bench was reduced to splinters and fragments when a cartridge case ruptured. Several of the shooters empty cases had incipient case head separations.

March 23, 2013, 10:55 AM	#22
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	i own three low numbered model 1903 rifles, two Springfields and a Rock Island. Two of those guns are sometimes fired with reduced loads. One of the contributing factors in the destruction of low numbered 1903 rifles was defective ammunition manufactured during WWI. National Copper and Brass made quantities of .30 caliber ammunition with soft cartridge cases. Much of the substandard .30 caliber ammunition manufactured during WWI remained in stockpile up to WWII. Heres a good writeup on the low numbered 1903 rifles: http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/ A ruptured cartridge case in a 1903 Springfield, 1917 Enfield or a Winchester model 70 can be a traumatic event. Yep, a model 70 Winchester: i was present on a firing range when the beautiful pre-64 model 70 at the next bench was reduced to splinters and fragments when a cartridge case ruptured. Several of the shooters empty cases had incipient case head separations. Last edited by thallub; March 23, 2013 at 11:04 AM.