1903 Spingfield 2-piece Firing Pin Failures?

[Son of Dorn]

I'm asking on behalf of a gentleman on another forum. Has anyone experienced any manner of failure with the two-piece firing pin on a Springfield 1903, or know of anyone who has? There seem to be a lot of "The firing pin would fail and it was much maligned for doing so" hearsay and rumor but not a whole lot of evidence to back it up.

Thanks,
S.o.D

 

[Lange Carabine]

In 30+ years of owning and shooting '03/'03a3 rifles I have never had a fp (actually striker iirc)failure, nor do I know of anybody that has.

 

[pmclaine]

Never heard of such.

It was a weak point I guess, probably an attempt to avoid Mauser patent infringement (which they got busted for and paid Germany $1/rifle until 1917), but in my two, plus seventy year old guns, both with either over or close to 1000 round round counts just by me, I had no problem.

It's probably not a good design for conscripts but it worked pretty good for US.

I don't know if that particular aspect has anything to do in particular the slow lock time the '03 is accused of but other than "too much engineering" I don't know of any particular '03 criticism.

There is the low number thing but that it is a dispute like was York shooting a 1917 or a 1903.

The Win Model 70 is an '03 built with the idea the tax payer wasn't going to eat the cost of production and profit had to be made.

Great guns!

 

[Frank Green]

In 30+ years of owning and shooting '03/'03a3 rifles I have never had a fp (actually striker iirc)failure, nor do I know of anybody that has.

I'll 2nd the 30+ years of shooting them with no issues!

Think of this as well....if it where truly a problem....for some 7.62Nato accuracy barrels and 9mm accuracy barrels they are still using 1903 actions. They are switching more and more to Remmy threaded actions but we still make a couple of batches every year set up for the 1903. If it was such a huge problem they would've done away with using the 03 action years ago.

Just made some 9mm ones like 2 months ago and made some 7.62's back around spring time.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[mmlj]

I've shot the O3, in Sniper Rifle Competition and 03 and 03-A3 converted sporterized rifles for many years. I have never had a problem with the firing pin. There was a company, at one time, that made a one piece firing pin for these rifles. I don't recall their name.