“The Springfield 1903 Rifles” by Col Brophy has 45 + pages on Springfield Heavy Barrel Target Rifles. Lots of detail on the teams & rifle preferences 

A few interesting details. He says the Ordnance department purchased 10 Haemmerli’s as built by Haemmerli.  Then bought 30 more without barrels & installed Springfield Arsenal produced select barrels.  Later all effort seems to have been on producing the equal to Haemmerli’s performance totally Arsenal built on the 1903 action. He includes detail on the barrels, lock time, and set triggers. 

Interesting most were stocked & finished to suit the individual shooters no standard configuration 

Later they tested other makers barrels, 40 to be exact Winchester, Pope, Remington. Based on performance they selected 15 for the 1924 international team Two Pope Eight Remingtons 5 Winchesters .  Team had 5 shooters 15 rifles gave practice and back up’s . He shows “figure of merit “ for the guns ranked. Five 10 shot groups machine rest 300 meters total height plus total width divided by 2 = figure of merit. Result Remington first Pope second 2.29 inches & 2.30 inches. # 15 was a Winchester at   2.69 inches. 50 shots measured at 300 meters I’d say all were very good. 

They also built similar on the 1922 .22 Rimfire action.

Brophy quotes most of the American Rifleman article you mention. H also includes 3 pages with photographs and details on the Haemmerli’s  all were ultimately sold by DCM , Brophy says “ few have survived in original condition.

Boats

I have a heavily used 1903 Arsenal built Sporter. Re-barreled 3 times I know of. Also all original 1922 .22 caliber. Although on the service action they are very well fitted guns, smooth, solid lock up with good triggers. Add international style stocks to suit the individual, select barrels, set triggers & target sights. All features taken from the purchased Haemmerli’s, they are probably the equal of any period target gun. 

Boats 

A bit off the original topic, but since it has already been introduced and may be of general interest, here is info on one of the 1924 International Match 1903's, 1257698. The rifle has a barreled action made by Harry Pope for the 1924 International Matches. It was not selected by the team and was in DCM/SA hands until 1935. As Boats notes, this rifle no longer remains in its original configuration. The 14 twist barrel with 5 narrow lands & 5 wide grooves was shortened to 28" when sold in 1940. Subsequently sporterized in 1963 by Paul Jaeger in a custom Jaeger varmint stock, fitted with Jaeger Model 50 trigger (similar to Timney Sportsman), the bolt has been jewelled and bolt knob checkered. It is fitted with a Lyman 48 C with long slide and Lyman 17 front globe sight.

The 14" twist seems odd to me.  I know that the 300 m load had a MV of about 2200 fps.  Did it use the 172 grain bullet?  What sort of load did the International Match rifles use?

I was wrong loads are in “Hatchers Notebook” he was the team manager when we won the 1930 world Championship in Antwerp. Rather than type attached a photo of the page, loads from 1920 to 1930 


He also list the Palma match loads 1920-1930 anybody intrested can post them too.

Boats 

waterman wrote on Feb 21^st, 2025 at 3:41pm:


Dick,

Is the rifle you mention the one that belonged to George Ponnay ? The one that was at the 1936 Olympics ?

I was lucky enough to be able shoot it a few times. Pretty special to shoot a rifle that was used in the Hitler Olympics.

George was a good guy, I do miss him.