Re: possible rare find at flea market today?
People did wierd things with Springfields and 1917s, Some made you wonder about the gun smith.
I was going elk hunting on Afognak Island and this other cop wanted to go. I was iffy so I had him go to the range to watch him shoot.
He shows up with a 1903 Springfield that had been chambered for a 308 Norma Mag. Ok good enough for elk, but he had 308 Win Ammo and no scope or iron sights.
I ask him about the ammo and he tells me 308 is 308, OK what about the sights, "moose are big, don't need sights".
I went hunting alone.
Next Owner. This cop sold this guy to a second cop, He asked me about the rifle and I told him the 308 Norma was a good round but he need a scope. So he has a scope put on (I didn't do it).
Next owner: Now comes a third cop, he buys the rifle and some 308 Norma ammo. Being a good friend he brings it to me to check it out. Somebody forgot to open up the boat face when they re-chambered it. I can do that, but has me wondering how anyone could check the head space with out openning up the boat face.
So I openned the boat face to take the Norma round and check the head space, luck would have it it was OK. Now since I'm involved in working on the rifle I take it out and shoot it. Kicks a mite, it was lighter then I would have liked but was accurate and safe.
The third owner hunted sucessfully with the rifle, He retired from APD a bit after I did, but stayed in the NG and which I had already retired from. He went a bit further there then I did, He's the current AG for the AK NG.
So if one buys one of these converted military rifles, have them checked out BEFORE YOU BUY.
I'm sure there are people out there that converted low serial number Springfields to magnums. Not something I'd want to be around.