M1903 Springfield

U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903
TypeBolt-action rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service
  • 1903–1936 (as the standard U.S. service rifle)
  • 1936–1970s (as a U.S. Army sniper rifle)
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
Designed1903 (1903)
Manufacturer
Unit cost$41.35 (1938), equal to $924 now
Produced1903 (1903)–1949 (1949)
No. built3,004,079
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass8.7 lb (3.9 kg)
Length43.2 in (1,100 mm)
Barrel length24 in (610 mm)

Cartridge
ActionBolt action
Rate of fireUser dependent; usually 15 to 30 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective firing range100–300 yd (91–274 m)
Maximum firing range5,500 yd (5,000 m) with .30 M1 ball cartridge
Feed system5- or 25-round (air service variant) internal box magazine fed with 5-round stripper clips
Sights
  • Flip-up rear sight graduated to 2,700 yd (2,500 m), blade post-type front sight
  • M1903A3: Aperture rear sight, blade type front sight.
Blade typeBayonet

The M1903 Springfield, officially the U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903, is an American five-round magazine-fed, bolt-action service repeating rifle, used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.

The M1903 was first used in combat during the Philippine-American War and was officially adopted by the United States as the standard infantry rifle on 19 June 1903. It saw service in World War I and was replaced by the faster-firing semi-automatic eight-round M1 Garand starting in 1936. However, the M1903 remained a standard-issue infantry rifle during World War II, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops. It also was used as a sniper rifle during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, collector's piece, a competitive shooting rifle and as a military drill rifle.