old .30-06
 

my dad brought home an old 30-06 from his friend at work today....it has a lyman ghost aperature peep sight on it...the only markings on it are :U.S. rock island arsenal
model 1903 and the serial number..does anyone have one of these rifles or does anyone know anything about it?
any comments would be appreciated
Thanks
Bob Gifford

RE: old .30-06
 

Sounds like you have a sporterized 1903 Springfiled there.

RE: old .30-06
 

whats a sporterized 1903...is it accurate...able to mount a scope...the action seems very crude but tight so it might shoot good..right now it has a peep sight in the back..but no aperature..is this safe to shoot despite its age...it seems very very sturdy when i compare it to all the other guns i own

RE: old .30-06
 

also, what is this gun worth?

RE: old .30-06
 

Spend a few bucks and have a smith check it out. I believe that some of the lower serial numbered Rock Island 03's were improperly heat treated making them unsafe to shoot.
Does the rifle have its original military stock? If so, its worth more than if it wears a sporter stock. If its in its military stock without any drilling, tapping or other modifications made to it and in good condition it should fetch at least $400 on the market. Remember that 'good' condition for a 50+ year old rifle is much different than a 'good' condition for a new rifle.

RE: old .30-06
 

It is in a sporter stock. The serial number is 175011. This does not sound like a low number, but is it high enough to be safe?

RE: old .30-06
 

I may be wrong but I think it was the eddystones that had the bad barrels .
Mike

RE: old .30-06
 

I just read on a website that on some bolts they were improperly heattreated..some were too solft and some to brittly..i have no clue still as too the safeness of this rifle

RE: old .30-06
 

Your best bet is take it to a good gunsmith and have it checked .Headspacing and such . I have owned a couple of them and they were good shooting rifles .

Edited by - halcon on 01/11/2002 18:49:16

RE: old .30-06
 

I may be wrong too, but weren't eddystones 1917 enfields? or did they make 03's also?

With that serial number I would definately have it checked, I read somewhere where Rock Island 03's with serial # under 285,000 could have an improperly heat treated receiver.

Edited by - briman on 01/11/2002 21:18:20