• Frank's Lesson's Contest

    We want to see your skills! Post a video between now and November 1st showing what you've learned from Frank's lessons and 3 people will be selected to win a free shirt. Good luck everyone!

    Create a channel Learn more
  • Having trouble using the site?

    Contact support

Found a 1903 Springfield with a massive barrel

ArmedGinger

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 11, 2018
433
1,227
BC, Canada
Spotted this at a local gun shop, 1903 Springfield chambered in 30-06 with a heavy barrel that would dwarf most precision rifle barrels 😛


Screenshot 2024-10-12 at 18-55-04 Facebook.png
Screenshot 2024-10-12 at 18-55-10 Facebook.png
 
Last edited:
Popular in the 30"s, commonly referred to as a "Bull Gun". Referenced in this excellent book:

The J.M. Pyne Stories & Other Selected Writings​

Front Cover

Lucian Cary
Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp, Mar 10, 2023 - Fiction - 382 pages
A MUST HAVE book for machinists, gunsmiths and shooters, back in print for the first time in nearly two decades. If you've ever read any of Lucian Cary's J.M. Pyne stories*, you'll want this book! Wholesome and heart-warming, ripe with the fragrance of gunpowder and cutting oil, these stories combine humor, suspense, insights into human nature, and a certain amount of shop wisdom. They sprang from the pen of master story teller Lucian Cary more than 80 years ago, in part as a direct reflection of his long friendship with legendary rifle barrel maker Harry Pope. You will read and re-read them all, with fresh enjoyment each time. Also included are several other of Cary's equally entertaining, instructive and uplifting stories and articles.
Also makes a perfect gift for your favorite gunsmith, or shooting pal.
Edited by Guy Lautard, author of The Machinist's Bedside Reader series.
Contents:
  • Almost a Gun Crank
  • H. M. Pope - Last of the Great Gunsmiths
  • The Rifle Crank
  • The Big Game Hunting of Rufus Peattie
  • Madman of Gaylord's Corner
  • The Old Man who Fixes the Guns
  • Forty Rod Gun
  • Johnny Gets His Gun
  • Center Shot to Win
  • J.M. Shoots Twice
  • The Secret of the Old Master*
  • No Choice
  • Revenge in Moderation
  • Harmless Old Man
  • Let the Gun Talk
  • The Guy who had Everything
  • How's That?
  • I Shall Not Be Afraid

Griffin & Howe .300 H&H Magnum single shot bull gun, engraved “Ben C. Comfort” with his 1935 Wimbledon Cup-winning score. Built on Remington 30-S Express action serial number 23063 (made in 1932 per Remington), Griffin & Howe rifle number 1415 was “likely” (per G&H Archivist) completed in 1935. (Repeated attempts to locate any G&H records for this rifle were unsuccessful).

1728795913719.png
 
Last edited:
I remember reading those old stories.
A good read.
That's 40 rods off hand, about 220 yd.
False muzzles, gain twist rifling.
And the small dim lit Shop, old fashioned machinery, lots of heavy, dark, smelly, cutting oil, splashed about. Made with real whale oil, and other secret ingredients.
Also in the air the stench of blackpowder from recently testing a revolver inside the small dim lit shop.
And over in the dark corner of the shop, one could barley make out the figures, the whispers of old men, discussing secrets of the great barrel maker,...Harry Pope.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: j-huskey
It's odd the barrel is only 22''. Most of the Heavy barrel M1903's used in competitions were 28'' or 30'' barrels. I've seen some in 24'', but a 22' is not one that would be common at all. Do you have anymore pics? It makes me wonder if it's a Mann Accuracy device that was used to test ammo and someone just built into a rifle. I've seen a handful of Mann Accuracy Devices where guys have done this after they were sold to the commercial market. The devices have shorter barrels.

Heavy Barreled M1903's were popular in the any rifle, any sight matches back in the day before the Model 70's started to take over. Such as the Wimbledon Cup.

Heavy barreled M1903's were popular pre WWII. Every branch, and a lot of civilians had them. They were sort of common prior to WWII. It's just many were broken down as the barrels wore out and the barrels were replaced with a standard barrel since.

Here is a picture of Marine Corps Heavy Barrel M1903 taken in 1927. This is how the standard Marine Corps M1903 heavy barrel Match Rifle was configured. Morris Fisher used this rifle in the 1927 Wimbledon Cup. The receiver in this picture was rebuilt into a standard Marine M1903 Special Target rifle post 1933 when the Marines ordered all their heavy barreled rifles broken down for parts.

I really think this one is some type of accuracy device, instead of a match rifle like this below.

 
Last I checked they wanted $1100 Canadian for it, so about $800 USD plus taxes.
I'd buy the shit out of it, and then find a way to import it, for that price! Being that it's an old antique "collectible" weapon (C&R eligible here in the U.S.), they might be able to transfer it to a U.S. dealer after it passes through customs?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 308pirate
I know buddy, what’s he talkin’ aboot, guy?
Funny story about Canadian accents. I had never heard one until 1987 when I did a summer exchange training program with the Royal Canadian Navy as a USN Midshipman.

Growing up in PR my exposure to English accents was limited to the people I dealt with at the Naval Academy.......who were mostly northeasterners.

As soon as I started hearing people talk on that Canadian ship my brain was like...........wtf did he say?
 
Funny story about Canadian accents. I had never heard one until 1987 when I did a summer exchange training program with the Royal Canadian Navy as a USN Midshipman.

Growing up in PR my exposure to English accents was limited to the people I dealt with at the Naval Academy.......who were mostly northeasterners.

As soon as I started hearing people talk on that Canadian ship my brain was like...........wtf did he say?
 
Funny story about Canadian accents. I had never heard one until 1987 when I did a summer exchange training program with the Royal Canadian Navy as a USN Midshipman.

Growing up in PR my exposure to English accents was limited to the people I dealt with at the Naval Academy.......who were mostly northeasterners.

As soon as I started hearing people talk on that Canadian ship my brain was like...........wtf did he say?
Your brain was required a bit, quite simple !?
Not.. ? ;):)
 

Attachments

  • Springfield M 1903 A1 Sniper Rifle Schussbild auf 100 Yards mit neuem Criterion-Lauf aus 2012 ...jpg
    Springfield M 1903 A1 Sniper Rifle Schussbild auf 100 Yards mit neuem Criterion-Lauf aus 2012 ...jpg
    47.1 KB · Views: 46
Took a closer look at it and decided to leave it for someone else. The barrel is the same width as the receiver and is straight for the entire 22". There is some chips out of the stock on the foregrip. Double checked the price and it is $1300 Canadian ($940 USD). I just don't really want to spend that much on something like that at this time.
 
Took a closer look at it and decided to leave it for someone else. The barrel is the same width as the receiver and is straight for the entire 22". There is some chips out of the stock on the foregrip. Double checked the price and it is $1300 Canadian ($940 USD). I just don't really want to spend that much on something like that at this time.
Yes... Despite that: what about the accuracy of such a heavy-barrel M1903 ? :unsure::D

Hmm, hmm.. ?!
M 1903 A1 Springfield and Clip..jpg



M 1903 Springfield NMA Special Target I. Rifle.jpg
 
I called them and asked for pictures since I'm looking for an old school heavy barrel 06, but I agree with OP, it's not exactly what I thought it would be. I like the peep sight but the barrel seems too thick and new? Also the stock looks recently refinished. Here's what they sent me:
 

Attachments

  • image0 (8).jpeg
    image0 (8).jpeg
    462.2 KB · Views: 93
  • image1 (4).jpeg
    image1 (4).jpeg
    411.4 KB · Views: 92
  • image2 (2).jpeg
    image2 (2).jpeg
    438 KB · Views: 93
I called them and asked for pictures since I'm looking for an old school heavy barrel 06, but I agree with OP, it's not exactly what I thought it would be. I like the peep sight but the barrel seems too thick and new? Also the stock looks recently refinished. Here's what they sent me:

look at the step in the barrel right in front of the action. could be an accuracy device that was turned down and the whole gun was re-blued.

Could also be the machine gun barrel as mentioned before.

it looks exactly like i thought it would, modified keystone C-stock and all.
 
It would be a curiosity.

The butt plate is not GI or from a sporter but that is the look he seems to be going for.

I’m guessing it shoots well and would be fun.

It’s a $600 or so Springfield in my AO.
 
I called them and asked for pictures since I'm looking for an old school heavy barrel 06, but I agree with OP, it's not exactly what I thought it would be. I like the peep sight but the barrel seems too thick and new? Also the stock looks recently refinished. Here's what they sent me:
What a barrel... :D:oops:

I'm getting "jealous".. .

This Springfield M1903-Barrel remembers me - in a somewhat stimulating way - a bit to the heavy Winchester M70-Barrels.. Of course ;)

A younger prospect, but with matching content, IMHO

Winchester Model 70 1951 Stoeger Catalog.jpg
 
I called them and asked for pictures since I'm looking for an old school heavy barrel 06, but I agree with OP, it's not exactly what I thought it would be. I like the peep sight but the barrel seems too thick and new? Also the stock looks recently refinished. Here's what they sent me:

That is definitely a Mann Accuracy Device that has been put into a full stock. The sleeve that clamps into the fixture has been turned down and the barrel has had a recessed crown added.

In my opinion it has a lot less value than it did as a Mann Accuracy Device.


 
I'll also add that I would recommend checking the chamber since most of these sold with 22" barrels were in 7.62x51. It could have been rechambered, but I would want to verify.
 
Such a thicker and longer barrel... What would this ballistics be ? 🧐🙃

Any experience, please :unsure:
Typically, an increase of one inch of barrel length, will add around 25 feet per second to the velocity.

The benchrest crowd claim barrels ~22" provide the best balance of speed and accuracy.
 
Interesting .. With f.e. the M2 Service-Ammo used - the example above seems to be around 28-inches long - we could expect a MV of around 30 meters or 100 feet p/s more, compared with the standard-barrel. That means ca. 886 m/s or 2906 f/s.. .​
The UMC 30-06 150 grs-Load shows this MV.. .​