Springfield M1903A4
Remington Arms Company · Sniper Rifle · Discontinued · 1943
Also known as: M1903A4, Springfield 1903A4, U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903A4 (Sniper's)
Overview
The Springfield M1903A4 is a bolt-action sniper rifle adopted by the United States in 1943 as its first purpose-issued sniper variant of the M1903 Springfield. Built by Remington on the simplified M1903A3 production line, it was fitted with a Redfield scope base and a Weaver 330C 2.5x telescopic sight (military designation M73B1), and the bolt handle was reshaped to clear the scope. It carried no iron sights and fed from a five-round internal box magazine chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The M1903A4 served in every theater of World War II and remained in use through Korea and into the early Vietnam War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4340 g (153.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1098 mm (43.23") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 823 m/s (2700 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3950 J (2913 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 5000 m (5468 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 30-06, .30-06 Sprg, 7.62x63mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Telescopic Sight, Offset Bolt Handle, No Iron Sights, Redfield Scope Mount
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1943 · as M1903A4
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1943
Conflicts
- World War II (1943-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1965)
Production
Estimated total produced: 29,964 · Production years: 1943-1944
Total tied to the 29,964 M73B1 scopes produced; M1903A4 rifles were a small fraction of the more than one million M1903A3-type rifles Remington built during WWII.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Springfield Armory / Remington Arms
Discontinued: 1944
Notes
The low 2.5x magnification, narrow field of view and non-waterproof Weaver scope were the rifle's chief limitations rather than the action itself. The M1903A4 was replaced in front-line service by the semi-automatic M1C/M1D Garand sniper rifles.
Background
Developed to meet urgent demand for a dedicated sniping rifle in the Pacific, the M1903A4 was the U.S. military's first standardized scoped sniper rifle and the last bolt-action sniper rifle adopted as standard issue by the U.S. armed forces.