1903 stock problems...........

[leadhead]

I have a 03 Springfield that came from the CMP in 2002. It's a Greek return
and when bought, it was in a C stock. Took it to the range and it shot great.
I could keep 95% of my shots on a 8" steel plate at 200 yards off the bench.
I switched the stock to a straight finger groove one that was correct for the
year the rifle was made (1929). Now it won't shoot worth a damn and I can't
figure out what's wrong. I read about putting a shim under the barrel at the
front of the stock. What would be the best material to use? I load all my ammo
with cast bullets and have never run into this problem with any military rifle I have. Could sure use some help on this..... Thanks in advance for any info.
leadhead

[longgoldsilverandlead]

I've done some looking on this because I've got a couple of stock fitting projects in my future and I've not done them before. This thread got bookmarked:

https://www.m14br.com/showthread.php...ccurizing-Info

[John Beard]

The 1903 is correctly bedded when approximately 5 lbs. of force is required to lift the barrel from the stock fore end tip. The stock upward force against the barrel at the fore end tip must be perfectly vertical and not skewed to one side.

The stock upward force can be increased if necessary by installing shims underneath the rear receiver tang around the screw hole.

Good Luck! And Happy Independence Day!

J.B.

[leadhead]

Thank you John. How thick of a shim do you think I should use, and what to make it from? Happy 4th to you too sir.
leadhead

[John Beard]

I suggest that you go to your local hardware store and buy a pack of flat washers big enough to go around the rear stock bushing and use those for shims. You may have to trim the edges to fit down in the stock recess.

Good Luck!

J.B.

[ceresco]

I suggest that you simply slide a layer or two of cardboard shim under the barrel at the 6:00 position; thereby giving you the proper five lbs upward pressure and test fire the rifle. Good Shooting....

[leadhead]

Well John, I have tons of washers and found several thin ones.
Started with a .057 thick one and had to grind the sides down
like you said but it made the back of the receiver proud of the
top of the stock. I finely found one that was .045 thick and used
it. It looks to be the one, but won't know till I get back down to
my buddy's range. Thanks again for the tips, and I will let you
know if this was the fix.
leadhead

[John Beard]

In case I wasn't clear, select the washer thickness that gives you 5 lbs of upward pressure on the bottom of the barrel at the fore end tip.

J.B.

[lemmonhead]

I have used a felt pad at the tip, between the barrel and stock.
For rear shims I have used an aluminum can, tracing the bottom of the tang, cutting out several shaped shims from the can and using a hole punch to make a hole for the rear screw. It can take 2-6 shims to lift the tang

Neither one of these modifications would be legal for CMP matches.

[leadhead]

Well, I took the 03 to my buddy's range today and tried it out.
Took about 15 rounds to get it sighted in at 200 yds but finally
found the sweet spot on the sights. Shooting 16.5 grs of 2400
powder under a 220 gr cast bullet, I was able to keep 8 out of
10 shots on a 8" round steel swinger plate.
So John, you were dead on with the thin steel washer under the
rear tang. Thanks again.
leadhead