Just got RA 03A3, barrel dated 3/43.

[jjrothWA]

Looked down the bore and very dark BUT its a four-groove.

Now, under long-term barrel soaking with fresh Hoppes, after six hour with send a FRESH bore brush down bore and see what develops.

Took some photos before the soaking, will post later.

Did the same with a 17 Enfield and that took five days.

Sporterized MIL Stock has a "R" stamped on the flat surface under the front ring, nothing else.

No rebuild stamp after WWII.

[Allen]

Interesting. Please keep us posted.

[Johnny P]

For badly corroded bores a soaking in Kroil will help loosen any rust, and they make mild steel bore brushes for just such bores. If the bore is pitted you can't do anything to help this, but jacketed bullets will sometimes shoot amazingly well in cark bores.

Any rebuild mark would have been in the wood.

[jjrothWA]

Weeeell, after 24 hours soaking, pored the clear GREEN liquid thru a funnel and coffee filter.

Ran the new bore brush twenty stroke both was, as got a more defined rifling to start showing up.

Did drop a M2 bullet in the muzzle and the distance between the cannalure crimp and the muzzle, measured as 1/8". May consider counter-boring to hit better rifling.

Black gunk came out with he brush and bore rod, may have to coat the interior with turpentine to remove the rust, may try a SS spiral wrapped brush for that effort.

SN: 34932XX. Barrel date: 3/43

photos are before soaking / cleaning.



Next five are stock one new and sporterized.

- - - Updated - - -

More photos.

[jjrothWA]

Last three of five.

[Johnny P]

The "sporterized" stock appears to be a 1922 Springfield stock. Cut for Lyman 48 receiver sight, and no lightening cuts in forearm.

[JimF]

The "sporterized" stock appears to be a 1922 Springfield stock. Cut for Lyman 48 receiver sight, and no lightening cuts in forearm.

Yes . . . . .This ^^^^^^^

The clincher is, the angled mill-cut in the front wall of the magazine mortice and there is NO mill-cut in the wood for the magazine cut-off ?switch? of the M1903.

[jaie5070]

Have you tried hot soapy water, for cleaning the bore? It works great if the fouling is from shooting black powder blanks.

[togor]

If I may ask, what is the goal? Raise that barrel from the dead?

[Johnny P]

If a rifle has fired blanks you only have a short window to get it out before the blackpowder residue starts attracting moisture and rusting the bore.