Springfield M1903

US Rifle cal. 30, Springfield M1903.
History, development, service, specifications, statistics, pictures, and 3D model of the American infantry weapon.

Model 1903 Springfield
US rifle Model 1903 Springfield.

Springfield M1903, US rifle cal .30
Type: Infantry rifle.

History:

Although the M1 Garand was the standard rifle of the US Army during WW2, many thousands of the older bolt-action Springfield M1903 remained in use. In the earlier part they were still carried by first-line troops before production of the M1 reached sufficient quantities to supply them, and later it was relegated to reserve and guard use as well as for initial training of recruits.

The M1903 was used by several Allied armies during WW2, including the Chinese Nationalist Army, the British Home Guard and Free-French Army and Resistance fighters. Many of the US troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day in June 1944 were still equipped with Springfield’s.

Although the Garand rifle has been introduced to the US Army since 1936, the M1903 Springfield rifle has also been used as a standard weapon during World War II. After 1940 some were issued to the British Home Guard, and the units equipped with the Springfield rifle were so satisfied that the rifle was again put into production at the British request.

When the US entered the war in December 1941, the M1 Garand was neither available in sufficient quantities nor were manufacturing capacities great enough. Thus, the Springfield as M1903A3 was taken back into mass production.
This version had been simplified for faster production but was still a well-made infantry weapon. Some parts were now stamped, but the main difference was the sights, which was moved backwards.
A series of sniper rifles from the 1903A4 model were used even in the Korean War in the 1950s.

The M1903 is commonly known as the ‘Springfield’ since it was designed and developed, and largely manufactured, at Springfield Arsenal. The first magazine rifle of the US Army was the Krag-Jorgensen, but after a very few years of this weapon, work began on developing a replacement. After considering all the designs then available, it was decided to adopt the Mauser system of bolt-action and magazine, and for $200,000 the United States Government purchased a license from the Mauser company.

The original design was a long rifle with a 30-inch barrel, but while work was in progress, the British Army introduced its ‘Short’ Lee-Enfield and the US Army decided that they too would adopt this idea of one rifle for all troops. The design was modified to use a 24-inch barrel and the first models were issued in 1905.

The original bullet for which the rifle was designed was a 220 grain round-nosed pattern, but in 1905 the German Army introduced their ‘Spitzer’ or pointed bullet, which promised improved performance, and the rest of the world hurried to follow suit. The US Army adopted a 150 grain pointed bullet, and the rifle sights were modified to match its ballistics.

Although basically of Mauser pattern, there were one or two features which made the Springfield unique. The firing pin is in two pieces, the ejector is not spring-loaded, and an ingenious bolt stop allows bolt removal and acts as a cut-off, so that the rounds in the magazine can be held there while the rifle is used as a single-loader.


Variants

M1903A1: As for the M1903 but with a new stock of pistol-grip pattern, the forward finger grooves omitted, and the surface of the trigger milled to give surer grip.

M1903A2: A proposed barrel and action fitted into a special mounting for use as a sub-caliber training weapon for tank guns. The requirement was subsequently cancelled.

M1903A3: The rear sight was moved back to the rear of the receiver. Various small changes were made in construction to simplify and speed up manufacture. This model may have a straight or pistol-grip stock, and may have a barrel with only two rifling grooves. The design was standardized on 21 May 1942 as not enough M1 Garand rifles were available and production of the rifle had to restart.

M1903A4: As for A3 but with a Weaver 330C sighting telescope and the iron sights removed. The bolt handle was also modified by cutting and bending so that it did not foul the telescope when operated. Like many bolt-action rifles with telescopes mounted centrally, this could only be used as a single-loader, since the location of the telescope prevented the magazine from being charged by the usual charger system.

Users: US Army (front-line use until 1944) and Marine Corps (until 1943), British Home Guard, Chinese Nationalist Army, Free-French Army and Resistance.

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Animated 3D model US Springfield M1903 sniper rifle


Specifications M1903 Springfield, US rifle cal .30

Specifications:

US rifle cal .30Specification
Typebolt-action infantry rifle
Caliber.30in
Length43.25in
Weight8lb 11oz
Barrel 24.0in long, 4 grooves, left hand twist
Feed system5-round integral box magazine
System of operationMauser turn-bolt
Muzzle velocity 2,800 ft/sec

Service statistics:

US rifle cal .30figures
Manufactures Remington Arms Co., L.C.Smith Corona Typewriter Corp., Springfield Arsenal, Rock Island Arsenal
Production delivery1905 - and again 1941-1942
Final deliveryafter 1942
Production figure over 3,000,000
Price per unit?


References and literature

The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II (Chris Bishop)
The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II (Ian V.Hogg)
Infanterie im 2. Weltkrieg (J.B.King, John Batchelor)
Illustriertes Lexikon der Waffen im 1. und 2. Weltkrieg (V. Dolinek, V. Francev, J. Sach)
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War I (Chris Bishop)


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2 thoughts on “Springfield M1903”

  1. Filipe do Amaral Monteiro

    The Brazilian Expeditionary Force also used the Springfield M1903 in frontline service from 1944 to 1945.

  2. The Rifle Cal.30 M1903 was in front line use by US military forces until the end of the war in 1945. Photos show members of the 101 AB carrying them up the hill to Eagles nest and members of the “Marauders”/Mars task force Shooting Japanese with 1903A3 in late 1945. And that is about as front line as you could get.

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