My dad bought a Remington made 03-A3 (serial # 4003XXX) in the early 60's. He had a gunsmith in our old home town sportorize it. Since dad had an amputated index finger on his right, hand the bolt handle slammed against the stub when he fired it. The rifle soon was retired and replaced by a Remington 760 pump rifle which was way more enjoyable for him to shoot.

When I turned 14 I bought this rifle and had used it for most of my big game hunting for 25 years. Just in the last several years I've used a 25-06 for deer, antelope and prediators, although the 03 still goes with me for elk and such.

I was recently informed the 03-A3's concave champhered chamber is very unsafe. Was also told, since I'm using reloads in the unsupported chamber, it's just a matter of time before disaster strikes.
Now for the questions:
What is the purpose of that champher?
Is this really a safety issue?
If it's unsafe, would rebarreling it be worthwhile?
Is it time to retire the old girl and upgrade?

Needless to say the rifle has more than normal sentimental value to me, since the gunsmith and dad have both passed on.

I'm wouldn't say the 1903 or the Mauser it was derived from are unsafe, even with the "unsupported" case head. How many million upon millions of cartridges have been safely fired from those rifles? Granted, modern designs that enclose the bolthead will stand more pressure, and handle escaping gas somewhat better, but I'd never say a Mauser or 1903 was unsafe when fired with cartridges that operate at the designed pressure level.
If using handloads, you do, of course, need to make sure the brass is in good shape, and the case heads are not too soft.
Who was it that told you this?

The bolt and chamber of the 1903 and 1903A3 are of the same configuration of the pre '64 Winchester Model 70's, one of the most sought after actions for hunting and rechambering usages of modern times. No telling how many of the mllitary and commercial versions of this configuration has been sold, how many different chamberings and how many millions of rounds fired through them without mishap.

Might pass this along to the informant of the "serious mishap" information.

Who was it that told you this?

I was at the rifle range last week tweeking a 165gr Accubond load when the guy next to me striked up a conversation about the old Springfield. During the discussion he seemed knowledgeable. A couple days later he stopped at the shop where I work and showed me a copied article.... auctually just a picture with a caption. It compared the Mauser 98 barrel and bolt match up against the 03's.

Like they say, a little knowledge is dangerous, just didn't want it to be the lack of knowledge in my case.

I guess it could be a "disaster waiting to strike" if several things manifest themselves similtaneously.
If you improperly anneal your brass, and soften the case heads.
If you're the kind of reloader (notice, I didn't say HANDLOADER) who believes that the top end published load data is a good starting place.
If you don't respect your rifle and ammunition as you should.


Yes, you could have a disaster. the odds are, though, your diaster will involve driving somewhere to shoot your rifle...

I guess it could be a "disaster waiting to strike" if several things manifest themselves similtaneously.
If you improperly anneal your brass, and soften the case heads.
If you're the kind of reloader (notice, I didn't say HANDLOADER) who believes that the top end published load data is a good starting place.
If you don't respect your rifle and ammunition as you should.


Yes, you could have a disaster. the odds are, though, your diaster will involve driving somewhere to shoot your rifle...

Thanks for the reassurance. These days the Springfield only gets a few rounds a year though it. most of the time two or three checking zero and mostly one for a kill.

The brass is cycled out after three reloads.

The previous loads were in LC '62 match brass.
55.5 gr IMR4350, 165gr Hornady SP, CCI 200 primer

Now I have new R-P brass
56Gr. IMR4350, 165Gr Accubond, Federal 210 Primers

Some fired case measurements; .285" from the head the case measures .2688. At .235 from the head it measures .2635. These dimensions stay consistant with subsquent reloads. The same points on unfired brass from R-P measures .259 and .262 respectively.

Uh, did he offer to "take that unsafe piece of (whatever) off your hands?? For your safety's sake, of course.........."

Actually, i have a couple now, and used to have one chambered in .30-.338. I never gave a thought as to the strength or design of any of them....

Funny about that when I rebarreled and rechambered to a 7mm/06 I used that same chamber configuration without ill health since 1970. I have used up to 57gns of IMR4831 and a 140gn Sierra spitzer with many rounds through it. Just a word for the guru you were speaking to, the 03-A3 was a military design patterned after the 98 Mauser and was designed to shoot military ball which is a thicker heavier case which I used in the above mentioned load a very serious charge wgt. I now shoot federal 06 brass and 160gn sbt and a healthy dose of IMR4350. Shoot your 03 and trust it, it has and will continue to serve you faithfully and safely.