Back in the 80's I picked up an old '03A3 that a guy at the local pawn-shop was using for a door stop (literally). Cost me $25. It was covered with dust and crud and the stock had been shortened. I thought It would be a good project gun.
Without so much as a cleaning and trip to the range to put round through it, I bought one of the semi-inlet Bishop stocks and made my first attempt at in-letting and bedding that action and barrel. I cut the barrel short and re-crowned it with my Dremel tool, drilled some holes in the receiver to attach a Weaver rail, and then took a shot at re-bluing the metal. I kept the two-stage trigger. After about a pound of Acra-Glass and a couple bottles of Tru-Oil, I piled a Tasco 3x9 on top.
The truth is that it wasn't pretty. At all. The stock looked like it had been inlet with wild swings using a dull machete, and the metal was a really unique shade of gray.
But man... did that little rifle shoot straight. I've currently got a got a couple of '06s that will print golf-ball sized groups at 200yds all day long. I'd put that Springfield up against them any day of the week. Honest.
I ended up gifting that ugly little shooter to my brother because he didn't own a rifle, and it's my personal opinion that every man should.
I'd like to get that one back.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Government office attracts the power-mad, yet it's people who just want to be left alone to live life on their own terms who are considered dangerous.
History teaches that it's a small window in which people can fight back before it is too dangerous to fight back.