Guncovered: What's an "Unconverted" M1903 Rifle?

Like the development for most U.S. military arms, the path for the M1903 rifle isn't so simple. There were several predecessors between it and the Krag-Jørgensen, and even after adoption, the M1903 went through numerous tweaks before arriving at the rifle we know and love today.
One of the most important "tweaks" was to that of its ammunition. Initially chambered in the .30-03 cartridge that borrow heavily from the British .303 round, the rifles suffered from poor trajectory and quickly worn out barrels. However, by using a lighter, spitzer bullet and a cooler burning propellant, a legend was born in the .30-06 cartridge. Battlefields and deer stands were changed forever.
Follow us!
Facebook: / rockislandauctioncompany
Twitter: / riauction
Instagram: / rockislandauction

[@Lockbar]

A fellow that I knew found one of these non-converted 1903 on a rack in a gun shop about 20 years ago. They had no idea what they had, they thought it was just a regular 1903. But he knew. He bought it for around $600 as I remember. I got to hold it in my hands once.

[@alswann2702]

Thanks, I never heard that story. I'm prejudice, always had Krag carbines since I was a kid. Not just the first US smokeless powder, first US bolt actions and FMJ. Easier and faster to reload than a Mauser stripper clip, although Springfield eventually developed one for the Krag. Just roll the cartridges outta your palm into that side loading mag it never jams. Single lug action gave rise to the expression, "Smooth as a Krag." Saw an old episode of Run and Gun where the Krag whooped the K98 hands down in competition. And TR loved 'em.

[@briankroenung7995]

Thank you for explaining the “aught-three” and “aught-six” designation indicating the year of adoption. I find that most sources just throw out the “aught” and don’t define the archaic term of “aught.”

[@oscarfloyd2678]

We still use "aught" quite a bit in the farrier/horseshoeing industry. A shoe size with a 0 in it is an "aught". so the next size smaller is the "double aught", then next size a "tripple aught", and so on and so forth. Eventually when we get down to the little ones, we'll call them 5x0, 6x0, ect...

[@MrPh30]

And 220 solids in 06 became for many a big and dangerous game stopper. Hemingway, Jack O'Connor's wife . And in recent time one of the Zimbabwe elephant cullers who used a M1 Garand with 220 Asquare solids and many other people elsewhere look upon 06 as their minimum .

[@randymagnum143]

Bell shot a mountian of them with 7x57.

[@RalphReagan]

220 grains at 2400 fps seems good.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Beautiful gun....Thanks....!

[@martinstiastny7679]

Joel, find a sword. I need a good story !! I brew a fresh cup of coffee !!!

[@jasondiaz8431]

The trap door springfields really were what the Army wanted to change. Why buy more krags when you can buy a whole lot of new rifles. The 03 is essentially a modified mauser

[@guilhermegoncalves110]

It has a revolutionary "car antenna" bayonet.

[@chrischiampo7647]

An Unmolested Pristine Example 😮😲😮👍🏼

[@sheldoniusRex]

I've seen 200 grain loads in the .30-06. What's the difference between those loads and the .30-03? Is there any compatibility, like with .38 & .357? Can a .30-03 safely chamber and fire an '06 or vice versa?

[@noth606]

I'd assume no, .30-06 is a shorter case and the rifles barrels had to be taken off the rifle and re-machined to convert them. a .30-03 would therefore not fit a .30-06 rifle, and while if you get lucky you might be able to fire a .30-06 in a .30-03 rifle you'd be taking a large risk doing it. And it would be dumb to do. Necked rifle cartridges are nothing like revolver ones so there is basically never any compatibility across to something else.

[@randymagnum143]

.30/03 was semi-rimmed.

[@demonprinces17]

How did these not get reworked

[@miketaylor5212]

the us didnt design it from the ground up they borrowed so heavily from the mauser they had to pay for patent infringement.

[@jasongoltz9026]

The US invited Mauser to inspect the Springfield design and in May 1905, the US agreed to pay $0.75 per rifle and $0.50 per thousand clips to Mauser until $200,000.00 was reached. The final payment was made July 1909 with both parties satisfied. DWM then saw an opportunity and tried to sue for patent infringement on the spitzer bullet. DWM wanted $250,000.00 but the US seized the patent when WWI broke out to avoid the lawsuit. The lawsuit was later found to be baseless, but the US violated international law with the seizure so they had to pay DWM $412, 520.55 in fines and interest.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

Correct. The only mention of "from the ground up" in the video is that of the .30-40 Krag cartridge. It was designed from the outset to utilize smokeless powder, as opposed to others that attempted to use the new propellant in existing cartridges.

[@janivarsrvaag5137]

you cook the hammer on that krag pull the trigger on that krag it can bee damage if you dont lett the hammer down on itt