03 A3 Issued with free floating barrel's or not ?

[WoodyWagon]

Just asking, but how are you measuring 4 to 6 pounds of upward pressure? Just by “feel”?

[broomhandle]

Hi WW,

Good point ! I'll look into the proper way to do that soon. I'm sure there is a You- Tube video showing that.

I helped my pal a few years ago. His method was to hang two 3 pound dumbbell's his wife had, from the very tip of the barrel! He applied some bearing grease to the barrel (no bonding to it) & some blue painters tape to the inside of the for-end of the stock to allow for side clearance, neatness & easy removal.

He put a blob of Marine - Tex where he felt it had to go, near the tip of the fore-end, carefully installed the action in the upside down stock.
Stock held in a padded vise- snugged up the action screws. Next day he removed the stock & action from the vise - removed the tape- cleaned up any extra bedding & has been very happy with the results.
It might not be the most correct way, but it worked!

Your note, has sparked my interest in maybe doing a even better more correct job.

Thanks for the reply,
broom

[Shomway]

Originally Posted by WoodyWagon

Just asking, but how are you measuring 4 to 6 pounds of upward pressure? Just by “feel”?

I believe a trigger pull scale will work for that....

[Ohio Don]

There are many 03A3 actions out there that were rebarreled without the need for the pressure near the end of the barrel. I have one in .270 WCF and it works as good as my eyes do. It does have a better sight though.

[broomhandle]

Hi Sir,

Missed your reply! It's a Lovely rifle!

That looks like my very first 03-A3. I have that rifle for over 45 years.
Still a wonderful rifle, harvested a bunch of deer with it!

Enjoy life,
broom

[broomhandle]

Hi lrdg1,

I had a chance to shoot the rifle today, actually! I had done EXACTLY what you mentioned in your post, a while back. The rifle shot a bit tighter then the last outing. Cut up a business card -three layers thick & punched a hole through it so it can't move. The rear action screw holds it in place.

I discovered that the stock at the fore-end is thinner then the other 03 A3 stock. I guess someone had cleared it years ago. The steel pillar is also more exposed at the tang / trigger guard area. Guess the stock has shrunk a bit in 70 + years. When I have time, I'll do a proper bedding job on the stock.

Now to figure out if I should just build up the front of the fore-end to the total thickness of the other stock. Or build up the rear area under the tang & the fore end.
I'll run that question past my gunsmith & the good people reading this post.

It's always the little things that make a big difference in making a accurate rifle - more accurate. I'm at the stage were I have some of the answers but not all of them!

Thanks for your reply,
broom

[NAMVET1970]

Broom try this thread on the CMP forum.
http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=158451

Regards
Bill

[broomhandle]

Hi lrdg1,

"I'm not sure what you mean by "steel pillar", original GI stocks were all wood"-Quote

Yes the stock is all wood. But there are two steel stamped -tubes- that pass through the wood stock around the stock screws.
Apparently they are there to prevent someone crushing the wood under the receiver / & hand-guard. Both of my 03-A3's have them.
I have been fooling with rifles for 50 years & I'm finding out I just skimmed the surface all this time!

Thanks for your post,
broom

[broomhandle]

Originally Posted by NAMVET1970

Broom try this thread on the CMP forum.
http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=158451

Regards
Bill

Hi Bill,

My "Google foo " is VERY poor, I never use the "correct search terms!
That post has lots of info in it, I'm going to make a hard copy, so I can have it in front of me as I tinker.

Thanks!
broom
PS -Nam is a lovely country, if no one is shooting or planting bombs in your area! Yes! the rainy season is a drag.

[DJEinConcord]

Each and every rifle is different. Some milsurp and sporting arms like free floated barrels, some don't--regardless of original design.

Next time you see a seasoned reloader doing load developemt on a sporting rifle don't be surprised to see him stick a matchbook between the stock and barrel checking for improvements.

The barrel band screw on '03s are sometimes called "group tighteners". I always tighten mine to the same spot in the hope of not fixing what ain't broke by changing barrel tension. I have had two 03A3s and one 03 and all of them had different barrel pressure of a few pounds. And they all shot great.