M1941 USMC Sniper Re-Creation

[DMark]

At long last my effort to build a M1941 USMC Sniper re-creation is finished and tested.

 

It began as this Pawn Shop find.  A M1903 Mark I that bubba had D&T to the point that it had more holes than a slice of Swiss Cheese.

 

 

Now after all of the "Re-Creation."

 

 

Interesting what you can do with all of the left-over stuff in your spare parts box. 

 

The pre-war Springfield C Stock and the cut-down handguard I had picked up at a collectors show a while back.  I already had all of the 1903 metal parts to include a complete rear sight and Nickel Steel bolt and grooved National Match trigger and sear. 

 

Ben Schade (Gunsmith at the Lebanon Gun Shop (615) 547-9600) plugged all of the old holes and then did a new D&T for the Leatherwood Malcolm 8X USMC Sniper Scope.

 

 

I was thinking about doing a re-park of all the metal, but with the stock's patina I felt that a fresh metal refinish would look out of place.  So I used an old trick of using a heat gun on the metal and with 0000 steel wool, rubbed hard into the remaining finish with Brownell's Oxpho-Blue Crème.  Afte a week or two soaking in CLP, the finish takes on a blacken look of the old Springfield finish.

 

Before.

 

 

After.

 

 

And the best part of all - - - This rifle will hold the Ten-Ring at 600 yards using match ammo.

 

Heck, I just might have to shoot a F Class Mid-Range match with it. 

 

 

[Spots]

I think I just drooled on myself. Beautiful rifle my friend

Sent from the backwoods of Nowhere

[leftyk82]

Wow

[thundersnow]

very impressive!

[leftyk82]

And you'll let me borrow it at the next vintage match??????

;)

[NRA]

:up:  :up:

[173rdABN]

show off  ;)

[smokin45]

Nice Job   Its a beauty  :hat:

[ArmyBrat61]

That is one beautiful piece of history! Congrats and wow!

[Garufa]

Great job!

[roverboy]

Wow, you really brought her back to life. Great job on that one.

[Moped]

Man, that is sweet!!!

[TNcitizen22]

That is one fine looking piece of hardware!

[R1100R]

Beautiful rifle. I like the Unertl look. What did you use for rings and mounting blocks ? I don't see a recoil spring, is it not needed with the reproduction scope?

I have my 8X Unertl on a Remington .243 700 heavy barreled varmint. Edited June 5, 2013 by R1100R

[crossfire]

That is sweet! Great job. :bow:

[DMark]

Beautiful rifle. I like the Unertl look. What did you use for rings and mounting blocks ? I don't see a recoil spring, is it not needed with the reproduction scope?

I have my 8X Unertl on a Remington .243 700 heavy barreled varmint.

 

The USMC didn't use the recoil spring.  Since I plan to shoot this rifle in CMP vintage snipers matches, the spring had to go.  I'm still getting use to pulling the scope back into the mounts after the shot.  The rings and blocks are still the CHICOM Leatherwood parts.  Not too bad, the adjustment clicks are repeatable, but with a little mushy.  I replaced all of the screws with USA hardware since the Chinese stuff is know to be on the soft side and tend to break.

 

A Unertl would have been nice, but the cost of those scopes have now placed them in the world of collectors.  If I break this, I'll just order another one up from Midway.  Break a Unertl and there are only about 5 or 6 guys left in this world who still know how to work on them, must less have the parts.  Besides, I have to say that the glass in these reproductions is very good.

 

Did I mention that I lucked out with the barrel.

 

Its a Star Gauged National Match.  Reckon bubba knew something when he tried to make this 03 into a hunting rifle and found a good replacement barrel.   

 

Just wish he hadn't put a grinder to the end of the barrel to take the front sight rib off in an aborted attempt at a sporting profile.  He almost wiped out the star gauge marking (but the number is still on the barrel).

 

 

Also note the date (this photo before the re-creation).  That is the Last month and year that Springfield made Star Gauged 1903 barrels.  If bubba haven't attempted his "smithing" it would have been a Very, VERY Valuable barrel. 

 

 

My guess is that the barrel was sold via the DCM post WWII and then found its way onto this 1903 Mark I receiver.    

[LCPfraTN]

 

I think I just drooled on myself...

I think I may have done more than that...  :drool:  :love:  That is a beautiful rifle...very well done. :bow:

[Guest PapaB]

That is a real gem. Love the new patina.

[mikegideon]

Very nice! The metal looks great.

[bikertrash2001]

Holy Crap!. You may have inspired me to take a stab at a BBQ'd 1903 I've seen recently.

[Chris]

Pretty

[willis68]

Very Very nice, that is a beautiful rifle, well played sir!

[DMark]

Here is a pic that explains how the scope moves during recoil.

 

The scope in its firing position with the forward stop (Red Arrow) resting against the front ring.  When the rifle recoils it moves under the scope and the rear stop (Yellow Arrow) limits the movement of the scope.  For the next shot you run the bolt to chamber a new round and then pull the scope to the rear up against the forward stop. 

 

 

This was done back before "shock-proof" scopes where designed.  This protected the glass in the tubes from recoil.

[03clyde]

Nice save. The before and after photos tell the tale.

[LCPfraTN]

I did not know that about that old sniper scope...learn something new everyday.