Springfield 1903

[grifter95]

I was recently given a 1903 Springfield ROTC gun from my paw-in-law. Everything in the gun is in good shape except for the barrel. Well the barrel is like new, but they put a spot weld in the chamber to make sure it couldn't be fired. Well I'm planning on ordering a new barrel from MidwayUSA in .35 Whelen and sporterizing it. Has anyone else done a similar project and has some do and don't for me before I start?

[okie shooter]

Grifter95, I would think long and hard about that, you have as much or more of a rifle to work from than turning it into a sporter. I bought a problem child 03 sporter for 150 thus was far ahead rather than cutting into a 03 wood and such. It might be easy to build the rifle back to its orginal state and find another action to build your sporter on.

[rustypirate]

If they spot welded the chamber doesn't that make it a demilled gun?

Are there any leagal issues with converting it back to operational condition on that receiver?

[okie shooter]

Rusty, on the point of returning a rifle to operational condition, I think this would be like rewelds on receivers, you can do that if I can remember right.

[M1Marksman]

If they spot welded the chamber doesn't that make it a demilled gun?

Yes.

Are there any leagal issues with converting it back to operational condition on that receiver?

As long as the rifle is legal to own in your state (bolt-actions are usually legal everywhere), there is no law that stops you from turning it back into a useable firearm. If you are getting a shipment of demilled ROTC rifles & converting them without the proper license, that's another story.

[Smokehouse69]

Grifter95, I would think long and hard about that, you have as much or more of a rifle to work from than turning it into a sporter. I bought a problem child 03 sporter for 150 thus was far ahead rather than cutting into a 03 wood and such. It might be easy to build the rifle back to its orginal state and find another action to build your sporter on.

+3 on that statement. The Springfield will be far more valuable restored to original, than sporterized. I have a sporter springfield that I might get $200 for if I sold it. I wish more than anything that it was back to original state. Not that it would be worth a fortune, but it would be a lot more valuable to me or some other collector.