U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30 Model of 1903

The U.S. M1903 Rifle was designed and
adopted to replace the Krag-Jorgensen rifle
and its .30-40 cartridge. Adopted on June
19, 1903, the M1903 Rifle
was chambered for the
Model of 1903, .30 Govern-
ment Cartridge (.30-03),
which had a 220-grain
round-nose projectile. The
Model of 1903 Rifle was
only in service a short period of time before some changes were made. One
of the most prominent up-
grades was the rechambering for the improved Model of 1906 cartridge,
which had a lighter, spitzer-
type projectile and an improved powder. A newly designed M1905 rear sight was also added. The rifles were manufactured by
Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal from 1903 until 1914. Production was quickly resumed during 1917 with the U.S.
entry into World War I.
The M1903 Rifle in .30-06 caliber remained the standard service weapon of the U.S. until the adoption of the M1 Rifle in 1936.
During World War II, production of the M1 Garand was not able to keep up with the wartime demand. Thus, Remington Arms was
awarded a contract to resume manufacture of the M1903 Rifle. During production, there were many new features implemented into
the original design of the ’03 rifle to speed up production. These rifles were designated as the M1903 (Modified). Subsequently,
more improvements were made resulting in the M1903-A3 model, which was adopted on May 21, 1942. The 03-A3 had many
stamped parts, a new receiver mounted aperture rear sight and a longer hand guard. The L.C. Smith & Corona Company was
awarded a contract in February of 1942 to supplement production. The M1903 and its variants remained in service until declared
obsolete on July 24, 1947.