Range Guys Firearms Training

I get questions about 1903 Springfields rifles in particularly very early models. These rifles were chambered in the very powerful 30-06.
According to the Civilian Marksmanship Program, or CMP, M1903 rifles that were manufactured prior to February of 1918 (and which therefore have low serial numbers under 800,000) were manufactured with receivers and bolts that were only given a single heat treatment (and one that may well have been inadequate).
As a result, the receivers and bolts of these “low number” 1903 rifles are generally considered brittle and can fail catastrophically when firing the rifle. Injuries have been reported fir WW1.
Rifles with serial numbers lower than these are considered “low number” rifles and should not be fired. Rifles with serial numbers higher are called “high number” rifles and, if all else checks Rifles with serial numbers lower than these are considered “low number” (under 800,000) rifles and should not be fired. Rifles with serial numbers higher (>800,000) are called “high number” rifles and, if all else checks out and the rifle is in acceptable shape, should be safe to fire.