Custom 458 Winchester Bolt Action

[NTO]

Custom 458 win bolt action
Built on a Remington 03A3 auction
Nice custom stock 14.5 LOP
Has had iron sights installed on 25" barrel
Has Williams quick detach rings with 1" bases
Very good trigger
Very nice old school big bore
$1000 shipped
More pics available on request

 

[Ontario Hunter]

There's a gun meant to work. Pretty piece of wood too. I note that it appears to still have military safety. How did that work with scope? Trying to figure out the rear sight setup. Is it mounted on a shroud over the receiver/barrel? Interesting.

My Springfield cycles smooth as glass. Great guns.

 

[NTO]

The military safety is short enough to clear scope.
Yes the rear sight has been mounted over the receiver.

 

[NTO]

Let’s try $900 shipped

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Hard to tell from the photo but it appears to have a blind magazine (no floor plate), correct? If so, very nicely done.

 

[NTO]

No it has a steel floor plate they just did a very good job in letting it into the stock.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

How much does it weigh?

 

[NTO]

I will get a weight she is no featherweight I am gonna guess a even 10lbs

 

[Zinz]

Interested...

Quick searching around the web found articles talking about the early 03A3 actions being brittle. This gun looks to have been run a good bit... I'm guessing you've never had any trouble with it? It feeds okay?

I'm also guessing it only holds two in the magazine?

Just for giggles; does anyone know/have experience if this action would accommodate the .458 Lott?

Many thanks,

Ed Z

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Interested...

Quick searching around the web found articles talking about the early 03A3 actions being brittle. This gun looks to have been run a good bit... I'm guessing you've never had any trouble with it? It feeds okay?

I'm also guessing it only holds two in the magazine?

Just for giggles; does anyone know/have experience if this action would accommodate the .458 Lott?

Many thanks,

Ed Z

Springfield holds FIVE 30-06 shells in the magazine. I would be surprised if this one is not 3+1. The 8mm Mauser I'm building into 404 Jeffery holds three easily in the magazine. Just a minor extension makes it 4+1.

458 Lott might be doable but probably requires lapping the main bolt lugs to "activate" the third safety lug which, except in the event of gun blowing apart, is typically cosmetic.

I have seen Springfields built into 7mm mags and 300 WM but this is the first time I've seen one 458. But I see no reason why we don't see more of them. Personally, I find it a much nicer action than Mauser 98 which seems to be a favorite for builds.

There were only a few years when Springfield actions had a few (actually VERY few) issues with receivers not being properly hardened. Very early in production run. WWI as I recall. Easy to check the numbers. Most of that series were cycled out to the scrap pile. Some made it into private sector. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of those now rare guns from that series. Get it properly checked for hardness and hardened if needed. Good to go.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

03A3s should all be good. The early 03s could be brittle.

 

[NTO]

Weight is 10.5lbs
3+1 what it holds.
Cycles great ready to work

 

[Hunter-Habib]

@xausa used to own an almost identical .458 Winchester Magnum that was built on a Springfield Model 1903A3 action. And it’s without a doubt, the most beautiful bolt action rifle that I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ve lusted after that .458 for years.

 

[xausa]

Actually, that .458 WM was based on a 1903 Springfield. The 03A3 models are pretty crude wartime manufacture rifles, with a number of stamped parts. This was my rifle:

The metal work was by the late Harry Creighton and the stock by the late Hal Hartley. A Lyman Alaskan scope in a Griffin & Howe side mount, selected partly because of its long eye relief. The sighting arrangement included a Lyman 48 receiver sight and a Redfield ramp and Sourdough front sight. I would like to think that its eventual owner took it to Africa at some point.

 

[NTO]

Let’s do $800 shipped last price drop before I try to sell it other places.

 

[Retired Spook]

Man if I had the spare $800 that would be mine. That is my idea of a sweet rifle.

 

[fourfive8]

03A3s should all be good. The early 03s could be brittle.

Yes, all O3A3s are plenty strong.
That is a very good price on a fine rifle.

You could run a tight patch through the bore and calculate the twist. Some might be interested in that detail.

 

[Daven22s]

have you fired it? Are the sights regulated?

 

[Daven22s]

Also, what are the 3 pins that look like they go through the stock?

 

[NTO]

Never shot this one.

I assume those pins are like cross bolts to strengthen the stock.