1903a3 200grn eld-x 30-06 loads

[eldest584]

I know this isnt the reloading section, but I was just curious if any of you are running the 200 grn eldx bullets in your 03a3s. If you are, what type of velocities are you seeing? And are you rocking an original 42-45 barrel? I plan on picking some up and seeing if they stabilize, but wasnt sure what type of velocities to expect. I'm assuming no one here is really pushing close to max loads with their 03a3s.

And if nothing else here is a pic of my rifle I am currently working on. Remington 1903a3 sporter that I restocked, waiting on metal bands to throw it all together. Ordered the new stock from the CMP and it came with the 03 hand guard. Have an 03a3 handguard on order that should have clearance. The barrel on it is stamped RA 2-43. 4 groove that seems to be in decent shape. Allegedly it has a 1:10 twist from what I've read online but I'm not versed super well on all the history of the 03s and their variants.

 

[eldest584]

Also if anyone is curious on everything and cost. I found the rifle at a pawn shop for $200. It was a shitty sporter job. They hacked up an old scant stock and literally had pieces of tape holding parts on. Took the barreled action out and cleaned everything out. Ordered a 1903 c stock from the CMP estore for $173. I ordered a stock band kit for approximately $65, had the upper lower and stacking swivel bands, handguard retaining ring and lower band spring. There is another stock band kit thst comes with a buttplate for like $50 on sarco. I ordered from numrich. I also have a complete replacement bolt and a 03a3 handguard on order. Bolt was $68 and hand guard was $40. And depending on how the barrel performs I may order a new criterion barrel for the $250 or $300 or however much it costs.

 

[Flint62a1]

Looks like a fun project. Why go so heavy on the bullets? Have you tried any ball ammo? You'd be surprised how well these rifles shoot 150, 168 grain ammo.
Good luck with it, and don't forget to post pics when it's done.

 

[ZG47A]

The modern 155 gr VLD target bullets seem to be the go for target shooting with a .30-06 bolt-action rifle with 1 in 10” twist barrel. Hornady and Lapua sell large quantities of these 155 gr VLD bullets to people who shoot 7.62x51 target rifles (typically using 1 in 10” twist, 28” barrels) at distances of 500 to 1,000 yards.
The 200gr ELDX bullets seem to more for 30 cal magnums OR lower capacity chamberings with 1 in 8” twist barrels.

Nice looking rifle by the way. The standard twist is 1-10” for 1903, 1903A1, etc. rifles. Back before WWI (according to Roy Dunlap) there was a batch which shot more accurately with original M1 (150gr flat-base) ammunition and it was discovered that the guide on one of the Springfield Armory rifling machines had slipped, creating a 1 in 11-1/2” twist. The guide was reset to the 1 in 10” position.

 

[eldest584]

Looks like a fun project. Why go so heavy on the bullets? Have you tried any ball ammo? You'd be surprised how well these rifles shoot 150, 168 grain ammo.
Good luck with it, and don't forget to post pics when it's done.

No real reason. i am going to try out the 178 grain ELDX rounds first and see how they do next I'll step it up to the 200s just for funsies mostly.

 

[Dirty8404]

That’s pretty sweet. I’ve been thinking for awhile about a 1903 with a 2.5x10x24 NF, white oak barrel, bedded, and threaded for a can.

I’d give the 208 ELDM a try under RL-26. Max is around 62gr, (in my gun @3.460 if I remember right) drop tube might come in handy depending what OAL you can run. Bet 2700ish is pretty doable. Lots of people go for H4350 and get good results as well, just a bit slower. RL-22 is a good one too, tad temp sensitive though I’ve read.

 

[eldest584]

That’s pretty sweet. I’ve been thinking for awhile about a 1903 with a 2.5x10x24 NF, white oak barrel, bedded, and threaded for a can.

I’d give the 208 ELDM a try under RL-26. Max is around 62gr, (in my gun @3.460 if I remember right) drop tube might come in handy depending what OAL you can run. Bet 2700ish is pretty doable. Lots of people go for H4350 and get good results as well, just a bit slower. RL-22 is a good one too, tad temp sensitive though I’ve read.

Nice, yeah I was looking at a pretty moderate load with the 200 grain eldx, hoping to push it to like 2600-2650fps which should be no problem. I was looking at using some h4350 or h100v. I've had some issued with h100v being pretty temperature sensitive. Although I get some really nice velocities with it. And yeah I was thinking of getting in touch with mile high to spin me up a nice barrel for the 03a3. Considering threading the muzzle to run my can as well.

 

[Dirty8404]

H4350 should do fine. Only issue I can see will be what OAL will fit in your mag, and how long the throat is. You may get ~2700.

Once thing to remember is the 30-06 SAMMI spec is like 60k psi, while everything made off the case is 65k. You’ve got a good safety margin build it already, so if you want to use a max published load I wouldn’t worry about it.

I’m running a 215 hybrid at ~2800 out of a ~1950s Mauser with a 27” Rock Creek, PTG NM chamber, under 62gr of RL-26 as a reference. It has less than 50rds through if so I imagine it will speed up a tad, may step back a few tenths of a grain. Seating depth test is next.

You’re gonna want a scope with turrets to reach out there. The bug is gonna bite you once you have a load...

 

[eldest584]

H4350 should do fine. Only issue I can see will be what OAL will fit in your mag, and how long the throat is. You may get ~2700.

Once thing to remember is the 30-06 SAMMI spec is like 60k psi, while everything made off the case is 65k. You’ve got a good safety margin build it already, so if you want to use a max published load I wouldn’t worry about it.

I’m running a 215 hybrid at ~2800 out of a ~1950s Mauser with a 27” Rock Creek, PTG NM chamber, under 62gr of RL-26 as a reference. It has less than 50rds through if so I imagine it will speed up a tad, may step back a few tenths of a grain. Seating depth test is next.

You’re gonna want a scope with turrets to reach out there. The bug is gonna bite you once you have a load...

Yeah for this rifle I dont really plan on dropping too much money on an optic. Probably going to grab a little diamondback tactical ffp 4-16 in MRAD. I have a leupold mk4 er/t 6.5-20 m5 I threw on it for now just to go see how the rifle shoots since I haven't shot it yet. Probably going to sell that optic at some point and add to my collection of gen 2 razors.

 

[eldest584]

 

[eldest584]

That is how she sits now, I need to stain the handguard as it is a lighter piece of walnut compared to the rest of the stock. Future upgrades are probably a timney trigger, possibly a new barrel depending on how this one shoots, and some new glass. Bought a shitty sporter from a pawn shop for $216. Bought a new c stock from the CMP for $174 that required minor in letting that I did with a dremel and a sanding wheel. Worked super nice. Bought a 1903a3 handguard to replace the standard 03 handguard the CMP stock came with for $40. Regardless the cmp stock and an additional handguard was minimum $50 cheaper than any other c stocks on the market. Bought some replacement parts for the bolt, like a bolt sleeve assembly and firing pin rod which cost me another $40 or so total. and all the required bands/metal hardware to assemble the stock which was another $50. So all in I spent $520 give or take. Receiver was already drilled and tapped. Debating if I should have bought one that wasnt and had a gunsmith do it. I mounted my luepold mk4 on top for shits and giggles, and Damn near had to max out windage to get a rough bore sight. Which makes me thing the bases or the drill and tap job wasnt concentric to the bore. However with the weaver k4 scope mounted the scope is fairly close to mechanical zero from what I can tell with a rough bore sight so who knows. Maybe my leupold rings are fucked up.

 

[eldest584]

 

[Remington 1903a3]

Hello, I am looking for a Remington 1903a3 stock. I have my grandfathers 1903a3 and it is from feb 1943. Do you know where I might find a stock replacement?

 

[308pirate]

The modern 155 gr VLD target bullets seem to be the go for target shooting with a .30-06 bolt-action rifle with 1 in 10” twist barrel. Hornady and Lapua sell large quantities of these 155 gr VLD bullets to people who shoot 7.62x51 target rifles (typically using 1 in 10” twist, 28” barrels) at distances of 500 to 1,000 yards.
The 200gr ELDX bullets seem to more for 30 cal magnums OR lower capacity chamberings with 1 in 8” twist barrels.

I don't think you understand how this rifling rate thing works.

A 200 grain 30 caliber bullet does not need a 1 in 8 rifling. 1 in 10 will spin it up just fine. The majority of target shooters forced to use 155 grain bullets do so with slower twist barrels, typically 1-12 or 1-13. I know because I was one. And you're incorrectly overstating the importance of rifling rate to accuracy.

 

[ZG47A]

I don't think you understand how this rifling rate thing works.

A 200 grain 30 caliber bullet does not need a 1 in 8 rifling. 1 in 10 will spin it up just fine. The majority of target shooters forced to use 155 grain bullets do so with slower twist barrels, typically 1-12 or 1-13. I know because I was one. And you're incorrectly overstating the importance of rifling rate to accuracy.

So .., what you are saying, is that good friends of mine, one of whom has captained two fullbore teams to overseas competitions, do not know what they are talking about?
I consider you to be dishonest in asserting that: I do not ‘understand how this rifling thing works’. I merely commented on what is reported standard practice in my part of the world (and going by writers in Rifle magazine, etc. is not exactly uncommon in the USA).
I also consider your last sentence in the above post to be dishonest. I did not make any statements about the importance of rifling rate to accuracy.


I suggest that you pause, in future, before making dispute; and consider the appropriateness of your words. It has worked for me, many a time.

 

[eldest584]

Hello, I am looking for a Remington 1903a3 stock. I have my grandfathers 1903a3 and it is from feb 1943. Do you know where I might find a stock replacement?

civilian marksmanship program is a good route. i bought mine through them for like 150 or something like that. Numrich gun parts is also another good resource for replacement pieces.

 

[sandwarrior]

I don't think you understand how this rifling rate thing works.

A 200 grain 30 caliber bullet does not need a 1 in 8 rifling. 1 in 10 will spin it up just fine. The majority of target shooters forced to use 155 grain bullets do so with slower twist barrels, typically 1-12 or 1-13. I know because I was one. And you're incorrectly overstating the importance of rifling rate to accuracy.

I think he’s talking about the 200 ELD-M in small capacity cases for extended range.