M1917 & M1903 Springfield

[@thisoldjeepcj5]

I've got a photo of my dad holding a M1917 in boot camp from WWII. Always enjoy your videos, thanks.

[@HandloaderTV]

Glad to hear you enjoy the videos! We always appreciated the feedback. That is really cool, that makes sense that they would use those in boot camp at that time. --Jeremiah

[@tomrostock926]

Good job guy's, appreciated.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment we greatly appreciate the feedback and the support! --Jeremiah

[@michaelwilson9986]

Well hooey got to watch later.. You guys are doing great with these. All of them.. not just this series.

[@HandloaderTV]

Well thank you very much the feedback is always appreciated!! --Jeremiah

[@Gerald-do9yg]

Great memories of shooting both these fine old rifles over 50 years ago! Had a friend with a Springfield M1A, accuracy about the same with both! Also amazed at the accuracy of the'03, not to mention the level of finish on both! Thanks for the share, Blsgs, gg🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙋☝️☝️☝️

[@mikepalucci1381]

Great trigger work!

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much and thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@65branger51]

An absolute pleasure to watch! Good old honest discussion with loads of great info and history.

[@HandloaderTV]

Glad to hear you liked the video the feedback is greatly appreciated!! We had just as much fun putting this all together and filming it! --Jeremiah

[@gerardwolski799]

A great video by the booth of you! I own a 1917 Eddystone, a 1903 MK-1, and a pair of M-1 Garand rifles. I love them all and enjoy shooting them also.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much for the kind words and the feedback it is greatly appreciated! Take care and enjoy those super cool rifles you have! --Jeremiah

[@gerardwolski799]

@@HandloaderTV Thanks and I shoot them each month for military surplus shoot at my home range.

[@HandloaderTV]

@@gerardwolski799 That is really cool, I wish I had more time to shoot in matches like that I feel like that would be a whole lot of fun!!! --Jeremiah

[@dogbone1358]

Wow, an true Mark 1? I have an 03 with a Mark 1 stock. Do you also have a Pederson device?

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

I only have a Springfield Armory M1903 made in 1906 and rearsenaled at the Augusta arsenal in 1942 and a 1943 dated Smith Corona M1903A3.

[@The1jonnyz]

I love my Winchester 1917! It's a great shooter, especially with handloads. Great videos guys, thanks for the efforts

[@HandloaderTV]

They really are great shooting rifles! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@larrybaker9059]

Well done gentleman.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much for the kind words and taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@slimfire5475]

You two are just putting out some awesome videos together with some fine shooting and two great rifles with a lot of info. I hope you plan to do more videos together. Thank you Slim.

[@HandloaderTV]

I know I speak for Mike as well when I say thank you very much for the kind words! We both had a lot of fun putting these together and sharing that with all the viewers! There are many more to go we are still editing them as we go and still have quite a bit to go so we'll keep them coming! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@alanbrackett4230]

Thanks for sharing guys

[@HandloaderTV]

I know I speak for Mike as well when I say thank you for watching!! --Jeremiah

[@gtc1961]

Right down my alley...I have all of those rifles, primarily collect old US milsurp guns. Love these interviews.

[@HandloaderTV]

That is awesome! They really are awesome old rifles and I have a deep appreciation for them! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@cliffshirley829]

The 1903 is one of my favorites. I finally bought one, made in 1943 by Remington, in cherry condition (after looking for many years for the right one). I'd like to own a 1917 but they are scarce, especially in excellent condition. I do own a Remington model 30S Express in 30-06. It was built on the Enfield action in the 1930's. A great example of pre-war workmanship in a commercial rifle. I really like your videos with Mike on all of the vintage military rifles. Thank you!

[@HandloaderTV]

That is really cool, I love the 1903 it's certainly one of my personal favorites. The 1917s are tough to find in good condition, the one I have is pretty rough looking. After this video I would love to work up some loads for it though and see how it shoots. Thank you for the kind words and the continued support, I know I speak for both Mike and myself when I say that! --Jeremiah

[@alabamareloader]

I have a sporterized M1917….keep up the great content!

[@HandloaderTV]

That is really neat! I have a really old beat up 1917 and after shooting Mike's rifle it really makes me want to take mine out and just see what it can do! Thank you for your continued support of the channel and the content we are producing! --Jeremiah

[@michaelwilson9986]

Yeppie Finally watched it all .Outstanding

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you for the kind words and all the support we appreciate it! --Jeremiah

[@johnpalmer7272]

Yep. Thanks Mike

[@HandloaderTV]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! --Jeremiah

[@johnsodx]

I own a Remington Model 30 in .30-‘06, which has the same action as the M1917. It’s a great deer rifle and shoots very well. I love the connection with the main rifle that Americans used in WWI.

[@HandloaderTV]

That is really cool! the 30-06 is a fantastic cartridge and one of my personal favorites! I love that you use it to hunt and that it still shoots well! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@nmelkhunter1]

Great rifles. I’d really like to shoot either rifle, but especially the 1903. Thanks for another great video.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much for the kind words and your continued support of our videos. They really are great rifles and it gives you an appreciation for the level of craftsmanship in each rifle. Thanks for watching! --Jeremiah

[@dogbone1358]

We’re you shooting Mike’s ammo or surplus ammo out of the 1917? My P14 shoots better than my 1917. The bore of the 17 is not that good, but I’m shooting surplus. Maybe I should try better ammo. You might have shot more consistently with the 17 if you had a large red dot on the black steel plate to help focus on.

[@HandloaderTV]

Better ammo should certainly help, we were using Mike's handloads and the data is published in his book for all of his firearms. I think the main issue with this was time, many of these shooting segments were the first time I had fired these rifles and I wasn't even sure on the zero on some of these rifles. We filmed this entire series in about 5 days so it was a bit of a rush to get all of the shooting done. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment! --Jeremiah

[@timnavarrette3274]

What was the load for those 3006 rounds??

[@gregkerr725]

I have photos of my Dad during Army training during 1942-43, and they were using P-17 Enfields. Mi Garands were issued sometime prior to his division going to France in 1944. Of course my Dad who fired expert with every type weapon ever placed in his hands including the P-17. He fired for the 4th Army rifle team in the late 1950's and they were using M1 Garands at that time.

[@roptics314]

Nice video. I also have a sporterized version of the M1917. I reload so I am still trying to find a load that it likes but the process is difficult because the current sights are awful. Any recommendations for a good peep sight or similar that would work well. I do not want to add optics to it. Thank you.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much I appreciate it! I do love the 1917 I have one that I really want to take out and shoot but sadly it is not in nearly as nice of condition as the one shown in the video. I would encourage you to check out our Loaddata . com website and check it out. You can see everything but the powder charge for free just type in "30-06" into the search bar and it should give you a good idea of what kind of powders will give you what velocity along with what powders have worked well. As far as a good peep sight I kind of like the original sights if you can find those. A trick to shooting groups with those iron sights is to select a target size that will be completely covered by the front sight at your testing distance and pick a bright colored target then if you see any color around your sight then you know that you are off a little and need to adjust and hold center. It has helped me a whole lot! Otherwise I personally like the Lyman 57SME peep sight. I think you could also get good results with the Lyman 48RS The problem will be finding those sights Ebay would prolly be your best bet. I would also have a gunsmith install them unless you are experienced with it. You won't hit well if your sights are improperly installed. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@nebelwerfer199]

Great video. I got both and stock condition and love them. More I reload for these the more convinced I am that 150 grain heads are the only ones to use.

[@HandloaderTV]

Thank you very much for the kind words. That is very cool that you have both of them the 1917s are getting harder to find these days! I have had great luck with 150 grain bullets in my 1903 It's a go to bullet for me. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@nebelwerfer199]

@@HandloaderTV I was lucky to get the 1917 from an estate sale. The prices have gone through the roof! Keep on shooting those old guns Jeremiah!

[@HandloaderTV]

@@nebelwerfer199 Indeed that is a great find! I really need to go to more local gun shops and estate sales and things of that nature! Prices certainly have gone up but then again they have gone up on everything these days! We most certainly will and will probably be doing some load development on some of them in the future as well once we finish this series with Mike. Thank you for your continued support! --Jeremiah

[@74charger44]

Jeremiah, this comment has nothing to do with the video, but I have to say thanks to Mr.Wieland's article on primers. I was going to request a video on the subject, but he answered all my questions. Thanks for Handloader .

[@HandloaderTV]

No problem all feedback is greatly appreciated whether that is here about the videos or the magazine or anything thank you for subscribing to the magazine it is because of good folks like you that we can produce the magazine and videos like this. It means a lot to us to have such a great subscriber base! --Jeremiaha

[@williamkaiser8067]

I have a Model 1917 sporterized by my uncle. I had a HUGE chunk of wood some call a stock, with a beavertail front on it that theoretically makes a better bench rest shooter out of it. But it's still only as good as its sights, and he ground off the filled in the rear sight hole for some reason. He put a peep sight on it, along with drilling and tapping holes for a scope mount, but they are too far apart for today's scopes. I am trying to find a way to put a rail on it, but have come up empty so far. Can't wait to watch the video.

[@HandloaderTV]

That is very interesting I have found that these rifles can be very accurate and it really makes me want to take my own 1917 out and see what it can do! I actually like the sights on the 1917 I thought they were pretty good overall. I would recommend talking with a couple of gunsmiths out there and get a couple of opinions on how that can be done. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@lawrencehudson9939]

It's interesting that the two comments before me refer to sporterized versions of the 1917 as I was about to make a similar comment. My grandfather sporterized both a 1903 and a 1917. These are still my hunting rifles and someday I hope my son in law and grandsons will hunt with these. My grandfather was an old word German artisan and was gifted enough to be successful as a jewler, tool & die maker, taxidermist, and fine outdoors man. At arm's length you would think these rifles were the product of Griffen & Howe. They are not modern and have old scopes, but they will take game reliably. The only changes I have made were to the 1917, I had it rechambered to 308 Norma Magnum.

[@HandloaderTV]

Indeed it is surprising how many of these rifles have been sporterized. It makes sense when you think about it though. They were cheap and readily available and many of the folks back in that day were very familiar with both rifles with many folks having fought with them. That is really neat your grandfather sounds like a very interesting individual and I would have loved to hear his stories. It actually sounds similar to my great Grandfather he was also a German and served in the Kriegsmarine and I got to hear some of his stories and interesting bits of info that have been passed down over the years. So learning about these rifles is something that is near and dear to my heart. Thank you for taking the time to share those thoughts and bits of information! --Jeremiah

[@imfromthestreets5856]

Hand loader should do a video or article on 10mm +p loads

[@HandloaderTV]

That is an interesting subject ask and you shall receive!! That is actually the subject of my next column I have about 40 loads in there and a couple that are all pretty good and fairly accurate and some "full power loads" as well. About 1,300 FPS or so depending on bullet weight. There is no official SAAMI +P designation for the 10mm Auto but there but most of my loads are hotter than what most factories are loading these days. There also will be a video to go along with the column as well! So keep an eye out for the next issue of Handloader!! Thanks for watching and taking the time to watch and comment the suggestions and feedback is always appreciated! ----Jeremiah

[@dogbone1358]

There were more 1917s in WW I than the. 03s by a significant number.

[@HandloaderTV]

I do believe you are correct, in World War I there were more 1917s and in World War II there were more 1903s if memory serves me correctly. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! --Jeremiah

[@PatrickGessel-l6h]

M1917 was a British design, but American made and Improved!

[@kibbeystovall7546]

I'm going to politely disagree about the quality of the Remington 1903s. The very earliest ones (late 1941-early '42) were as well made as their Rock Island predecessors, but the demands of joining the war allowed Remington to reduce the finish and use less-than-the-best wood on the majority of their 1903's to speed production. The Springfield and Rock Island manufactured rifles were all of very high quality, although pristine examples are very rare to see nowadays, since most were overhauled at least once during their service lives. The "scant-stock" his 1903 is wearing was made using the same stock blank a normal straight wristed stock was made from, but such blanks didn't have enough wood to form a full pistol grip. They were not made from stocks blanks for different rifles. The scant stocks are not original on any 1903 or 1903A3 rifles, they were supplied as field replacement stocks for damaged rifles during the war. They could also be obtained after the war as surplus. They are believed to be original on some 03A4 sniper rifles, however. I have read older experienced gun authors claim the typical M1917 was every bit as accurate as a typical 1903, typically better. The 1903's reputation for accuracy was made using the hand-built, fitted, and accurized "National Match" rifles from between the wars. A rack-grade 1903 has the typical 2-4 MOA accuracy of most bolt action guns of its era. I'm surprised the 1903 shooting example was putting bullets into the center of the target at 100 yards using the battle sight. Using military ammo the 1903 battle sights should be zeroed around 525 yards, and will shoot completely over a man sized target at 100 yards if that is used as the point of aim. I believe the US Marines (who used the M1903 until the end of the Guadalcanal campaign) put taller front sights on their 1903s to bring the battle sight zero closer to 100 yards.

[@HandloaderTV]

I appreciate the politeness of your comment and you taking the time share your thoughts, I feel it adds a lot of value to the comments section on all of our videos. It's interesting to hear others takes and opinions on things. So thank you for taking the time to share and comment we greatly appreciate it! --Jeremiah

[@jimhoffman5103]

The m17 with handloads will shoot 1moa

[@HandloaderTV]

I don't doubt that, the rifles are well built and with a good barrel I could easily see them being exceptionally accurate. It makes me want to take my own 1917 out in the field and do some shooting with it! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! --Jeremiah

[@jimhoffman5103]

@@HandloaderTV I regularly use an m17 for Service Rifle matches here in oz, i even film it sometimes. If you want to see it and my channel, youtube search "Eddystone m1917 - 300m 10 shot"

[@HandloaderTV]

@@jimhoffman5103 That is really cool, I will have to check that out thanks for sharing! --Jeremiah

[@jimhoffman5103]

@@HandloaderTV we civis aren't allowed repeaters anymore "down under" - but there's still a pretty fierce service bolt following. That and palma rifle.

[@HandloaderTV]

@@jimhoffman5103 I can believe that, it is a shame that they don't allow such things down there but at least you still have the bolt guns and Palma rifles! --Jeremiah

[@blainechappell5383]

The old man is clearly biased. Other than weight, the M1917 is by and large considered to be a superior rifle to the M1903 in WW1.

[@HandloaderTV]

I would say it boils down to personal preference they are both very different rifles. I could certainly see how one could favor either one. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! --Jeremiah