any one have any knowledge of a army marksmen team 1903a3 Springfield

blunderbussnut · May 14, 2012, 08:37 PM

I want to find out some more info on this gun and all I know is it is a 1903a3 Springfield that was used by the army marksmen team

ohen cepel · May 14, 2012, 08:41 PM

Pics, paperwork, serial number, something to prove it was used by the AMU?

Don't buy the standard story that it was used by the team unless they can prove it.

If there is a punch mark on the crown of the barrel it means that it was tested and proven to be a highly accurate barrel. Other than that, I'm sorry, can't help without more info.

blunderbussnut · May 14, 2012, 08:45 PM

Ok, it does have the stamp on the barel

ohen cepel · May 14, 2012, 09:03 PM

What does the stamp read please?

madcratebuilder · May 15, 2012, 08:10 AM

You should invest in a few books. '03 Springfield Service Rifle by Bruce Canfield and The Collectable '03 by JC Harrison.

These two book contain the detailed info on the AMU rifles.

radom · May 16, 2012, 10:21 PM

I may be wrong but I dont think they used the A3 as they used the A1 and after the war the garand was the service rifle.

James K · May 16, 2012, 11:10 PM

I think ohen cepel is referring to the star gauge mark that was applied to some M1903 rifles whose barrels were gauged using an early type of mechanical gauge and proved to have minimal deviation of diameter throughout. Readings were taken every inch, and the data recorded on a card that went with the rifle. A special number was also marked on the top of the barrel under the handguard.

AFAIK, the star gauge practice was stopped prior to WWII for the simple reason that improved barrel making methods meant that almost all barrels were up to star gauge standards. Again AFAIK, no M1903A3 or M1 rifles were ever star gauged, though fakes turn up from time to time.

Even if a star gauged M1903 is genuine, it does not mean that the rifle was used by a service rifle team. Many were sold to civilian NRA members who never fired on any team. Nor, oddly enough, does the star gauge mark mean the barrel is accurate or the gun will shoot well. Years ago, a friend had a star gauge Springfield; it shot around a 6" group at 100 yds - not too bad, but no match winner.

Jim

madcratebuilder · May 17, 2012, 07:31 AM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What Jim said.

OP post some pic's.

May 14, 2012, 08:37 PM	#1
blunderbussnut Junior Member Join Date: May 14, 2012 Posts: 2	any one have any knowledge of a army marksmen team 1903a3 Springfield I want to find out some more info on this gun and all I know is it is a 1903a3 Springfield that was used by the army marksmen team

May 14, 2012, 08:41 PM	#2
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,013	Pics, paperwork, serial number, something to prove it was used by the AMU? Don't buy the standard story that it was used by the team unless they can prove it. If there is a punch mark on the crown of the barrel it means that it was tested and proven to be a highly accurate barrel. Other than that, I'm sorry, can't help without more info. __________________ He who dares wins. NRA Life Benefactor Member

May 14, 2012, 09:03 PM	#4
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,013	What does the stamp read please? __________________ He who dares wins. NRA Life Benefactor Member

May 14, 2012, 08:45 PM	#3
blunderbussnut Junior Member Join Date: May 14, 2012 Posts: 2	Ok, it does have the stamp on the barel

May 15, 2012, 08:10 AM	#5
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	You should invest in a few books. '03 Springfield Service Rifle by Bruce Canfield and The Collectable '03 by JC Harrison. These two book contain the detailed info on the AMU rifles.

May 16, 2012, 10:21 PM	#6
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,353	I may be wrong but I dont think they used the A3 as they used the A1 and after the war the garand was the service rifle.

May 16, 2012, 11:10 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think ohen cepel is referring to the star gauge mark that was applied to some M1903 rifles whose barrels were gauged using an early type of mechanical gauge and proved to have minimal deviation of diameter throughout. Readings were taken every inch, and the data recorded on a card that went with the rifle. A special number was also marked on the top of the barrel under the handguard. AFAIK, the star gauge practice was stopped prior to WWII for the simple reason that improved barrel making methods meant that almost all barrels were up to star gauge standards. Again AFAIK, no M1903A3 or M1 rifles were ever star gauged, though fakes turn up from time to time. Even if a star gauged M1903 is genuine, it does not mean that the rifle was used by a service rifle team. Many were sold to civilian NRA members who never fired on any team. Nor, oddly enough, does the star gauge mark mean the barrel is accurate or the gun will shoot well. Years ago, a friend had a star gauge Springfield; it shot around a 6" group at 100 yds - not too bad, but no match winner. Jim

May 17, 2012, 07:31 AM	#8
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	^^^^^^^^^^^^^ What Jim said. OP post some pic's.