In the May-June issue (#99) of the Rifle Magazine, there are 2 articles about a man destroying several springfield actions and an M1917 Enfield by tapping on them with a small wrench, a small plastic hammer, and a 10 inch screwdriver. A high number action (808,792) was also accidently mixed into the bunch. It shattered just like the low number actions. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
I bought my first '03 when I was 12 years old, since it was 5 dollars cheaper to buy a low number rather than a hi number I bought the lo number. (besides then I didn't know the difference.) I sold it several years later after putting a couple thousand rounds through it, mostly lighter reloads. Headspace was at maximum (I don't know what it was when I got it.) The '03 is my favorite action to use for bolt actions and has served me well.
I wish some one using modern technology could test some of the old receivers and the newer ones. I don't wonder too much about the nickel steel versions, they were always hard to drill and tap.
Also included in the article was pictures of one of the so called STRONG m1917 Enfields.
Also some information on Sledgely springfield built rifles. Interesting reading, even scarey. Am I going to quite using '03's, NOPE. They are just nice even if they are old-fashioned. Bill
