Springfield 1903-a3 question

[FRANKIE]

Picked up a couple of boxes of Federal Power Shock 30-06. These are 180 grain.
Have plenty of 150 grain surplus stuff but I don’t want clean the barrel all night. The rifle is in excellent shape head space is perfect. I know these are not recommended for the Garand. Any issues feeding the 03-a3 with the 180 grain ammo?

 

[FP1201]

Garands are Gas Operated, and as such depend on a certain amount of pressure and dwell time for it to operate, now the Garand WILL shoot those 180's or pretty much any other 30'06, BUT it can be hard on the Op-Rod, causing damage and in cases where the Tab is worn, it might derail.
"Hunting" ammunition tends to use slower burning powders such as 4350, where M2 Ball (Garand Safe) will use a faster powder such as 4895.
You're 03A3 won't do anything but beg for more of anything you're feeding it!
BTW: the cutoff for Corrosive Primed was 1953, after which it's non-corrosive....Foreign stuff may differ, but USGI won't.

 

[kev74]

I don't remember ever hearing warnings about using heavier ammo in the 03.

Maybe try CMP forum?

 

[4WHLDRFTN]

Uummm no. I wouldn’t go over 150’s and a light load in any of those old bones. I reload all my old mil ammo extra light

 

[FP1201]

Uummm no. I wouldn’t go over 150’s and a light load in any of those old bones. I reload all my old mil ammo extra light


View attachment 244575

I fully concur, and deliberately left my comments as cautionary...there are ALWAYS "Experts" that'll tell you they've been using bla, bla, bla for years and it don't hurt nutn'n, which is why I have a wad of unserviceable Op-Rods that I've changed out of Garands I've built/repaired.
Often you can get away with it a few times, maybe a little while, but a stead diet will eventually cause significant problems, which is why the above statement was written and published.

edited to add: The admonishment for 1903 might relate to the suspected fragility of "Low Serial Number" 1903's and yes, these are all old Rifles, but that doesn't make them weak or inferior to current productions, also 50,000 CUP is 60,000 PSI which is the SAAAMI max (sans Proof Loads)

.30-06 Springfield - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[FRANKIE]

I know the early 1903 Springfields had questionable receivers. Have a 1918 mark 1 and wouldn’t try it. No way in the Garand, but I thought the 03-a3 specifically a ‘44 (Smith Corona) would be ok. Till I read this. Thanks guys for the input. The only rifle I feel a bit more safe with when the Ammo is questionable is the old K98.

 

[FRANKIE]

And furthermore, is this second rate shit?
Why do they look shitty like this?
Or is it just me?
Wally World $26.72

 

[FP1201]

I know the early 1903 Springfields had questionable receivers. Have a 1918 mark 1 and wouldn’t try it. No way in the Garand, but I thought the 03-a3 specifically a ‘44 (Smith Corona) would be ok. Till I read this. Thanks guys for the input. The only rifle I feel a bit more safe with when the Ammo is questionable is the old K98.

The 1903 (and subsequent models) were Patient infringement on the Mauser Design.
Lots of Folks still shoot the early '03's many were rebuilt and used during and after WWII without failure or issue...
Cast bullets are a fair enough solution to shooting an early SN# Rifle: they're fun, accurate, and generally low pressure...
"Match" ammo was 174gr. and there's no issue shooting it... (six grains bullet weight difference isn't going to make any difference against the 180's)
The old 30-40 Krag was 220gr. and there is published Load Data for using heavy bullets in the M1, but unless that's all you got or some other subjective notion, is there really a need to go heavier in that Dinosaur?
This is a really interesting Book on the '06 that I have: Ammunition Cartridge Identifier Book 30-06 We Have Seen VOL. II Gerald Marcello | eBay

 

[FRANKIE]

The 1903 (and subsequent models) were Patient infringement on the Mauser Design.
Lots of Folks still shoot the early '03's many were rebuilt and used during and after WWII without failure or issue...
Cast bullets are a fair enough solution to shooting an early SN# Rifle: they're fun, accurate, and generally low pressure...
"Match" ammo was 174gr. and there's no issue shooting it... (six grains bullet weight difference isn't going to make any difference against the 180's)
The old 30-40 Krag was 220gr. and there is published Load Data for using heavy bullets in the M1, but unless that's all you got or some other subjective notion, is there really a need to go heavier in that Dinosaur?
This is a really interesting Book on the '06 that I have: Ammunition Cartridge Identifier Book 30-06 We Have Seen VOL. II Gerald Marcello | eBay

Definitely looks like an excellent read. The only notion I had was availability of grabbing a few boxes (without all the FFL shit and going out at sun up. But it can wait. Again,
thank all you and all you folks for the info.

 

[FP1201]

And furthermore, is this second rate shit?
Why do they look shitty like this?
Or is it just me?
Wally World $26.72

Sometimes it just doesn't make any sense: Well and properly concocted Hand-loads shoot more accurately than typical mass produced Factory rounds, but those same rounds are insisted for reliability...I can see blemished or slightly imperfect examples being retailed at discount Stores.
FWIW: while visiting Alabama I ran across a Store that sold "Blemished" or "Factory Second" CCI .22's in all their flavors...bought a significant quantity and shot the dog shit out of them, ZERO issues and better accuracy that the Remington's I was using....go figure?

 

[Acer-m14]

And furthermore, is this second rate shit?
Why do they look shitty like this?
Or is it just me?
Wally World $26.72

looks like that box has been tossed around walmart a few time and hit the floor .

nutting like blunted Soft Points out of the box ..

 

[Zerex]

Shoot what you want in the 03A3...................06 commercial ammo is loaded so that it is safe in all older arms...................Hornaday puts out Superformance Ammo, for the 30-40 Krag. Fast but safe.

Grands require Grand loads as mentioned.

I have a low number 1903 made in late '05 with '05 bbl in 30'06..not 30-03....... and a 1913 Rock Island 03 that was sold thru the NRA for matches. I have many others but still shoot these two, even with Greek HXP and my reloads.

Back in the day shooters would grease the cartridges, causing increased back thrust on the bolt........Hatchers Notebook speaks about this and earl;y receivers. Most 03 blow up were due to shooter and bad brass and ammo mistakes.......

Marines used early 03's with new barrels all thru WWII.

I load 180's with 43gr of 4895 as a match load for my bolt 06 loads.............43,000 psi max, but will shoot even 220 gr bear loads, too.