Editing M1903 Springfield (section)

==Specifications==
[[File:Caliber 30 Springfield Rifle.JPG|thumb|Diagram of the .30 Springfield rifle]]

The US rifle, Model of 1903 is {{convert|44+7/8|in|m}} long and weighs {{convert|8|lb|11|oz|kg|abbr=on}}. A bayonet can be attached; the [[M1905 bayonet]] blade is {{convert|16|in|mm|abbr=on}} long and weighs {{convert|1|lb|kg}}. From 1906, the rifle was chambered to fire the .30 [[caliber]] M1906 [[cartridge (weaponry)|cartridge]] (.30-06 cartridge), later the M1 (1926) and M2 ball (1938) rounds. There were four standard types of cartridge:

* ''Ball'': consists of a brass case or shell, primer, a charge of smokeless powder, and the bullet. The bullet has a sharp point called a [[Spitzer (bullet)|spitzer]], and is composed of a lead core and a jacket of [[cupro-nickel]] (later gilding metal), and in the M1906 design, weighs 150&nbsp;[[Grain (measure)|grains]] (9.7&nbsp;g). The bullet of the M1906 cartridge, when fired from the rifle, has an initial velocity of {{convert|2700|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.
* ''Blank'': contains a paper cup instead of a bullet. It is dangerous up to {{convert|33|yd|m|abbr=on}}.
* ''Guard'': has a smaller charge of powder than the ball cartridge, and five [[cannelure]]s encircle the body of the shell at about the middle to distinguish it from ball cartridges. It was intended for use on guard or in riot duty, and it gives good results up to {{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on}}. The range of {{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on}} requires a sight elevation of {{convert|450|yd|m|abbr=on}}, and the range of {{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on}} requires an elevation of {{convert|645|yd|m|abbr=on}}.
* ''Dummy'': this is tin-plated and the shell is provided with six longitudinal corrugations and three circular holes. The primer contains no percussion composition. It was intended for drill purposes to accustom the soldier to the operation of loading the rifle.

The rifle is a magazine-fed clip-loader and can fire at a rate of 20 shots per minute. Each [[stripper clip]] contains five cartridges, and standard issue consisted of 12 clips carried in a cloth bandoleer. When full the [[bandoleer]] weighs about {{convert|3|lb|14|oz|kg|abbr=on}}. Bandoleers were packed 20 in a box, for a total of 1,200 rounds. The full box weighs {{convert|100|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.

The bore of the rifle is 0.30&nbsp;inches (7.62&nbsp;mm) in diameter. It was then rifled 0.004&nbsp;in (0.1&nbsp;mm) deep, making the diameter from the bottom of one groove to the bottom of the opposite groove 0.30787 in (7.82&nbsp;mm) of the barrel.

The M1903 rifle included a rear sight leaf that can be used to adjust for elevation and windage. This type of rear sight was previously designed by [[Adelbert R. Buffington]] of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department. The M1905 rear sight was calibrated to match the trajectory of [[.30-06 Springfield#Cartridge, ball, caliber .30, Model of 1906 (M1906)|M1906 service ammunition]] and offers several sighting options. When the leaf and slider are down, the battle sight notch appears on top. This was set for {{convert|547|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} for the down position of the slide, and is not adjustable. When the leaf is raised its range slider can be adjusted to a maximum range of {{convert|2850|yd|m|0|abbr=on}}. The .30-06 Springfield M1906 service ammunition long-range performance was originally overstated. When the M1906 cartridge was developed, the range tests had been done to only {{convert|1800|yd|m|0|abbr=on}}; distances beyond that were estimated, but the estimate for extreme range was wrong by almost 40 percent.<ref>{{harvnb|Hatcher|1966|p=20}}<!-- Hatcher says 38 percent: 3400 yd actual * 1.38 = 4692 yd would match 4700 yd claim--></ref> The external ballistic discrepancy at long-ranges became evident during World War I. The M1905 rear sight can also be adjusted for windage.

The M1903A3 introduced a ramp-type rear [[aperture sight]] adjustable both for elevation and windage. It can be adjusted from {{convert|100|to|800|yd|abbr=on}}. This new sightline also lengthened the sight radius.<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/TM/PDFs/TM9-1270-Ordnance-Maintenance-US-Rifles-Cal-30-M1903-M1903A1-M1903A3-and-M1903A4.pdf TM9 1270 Ordnance Maintenance US Rifles Cal 30 M1903 M1903A1 M1903A3 and M1903A4]</ref>

A feature inherent to the M1903 and not found on the [[Gewehr 98|Mauser M98]] is the cocking piece, a conspicuous knob at the rear of the bolt, allowing the rifle's striker to be released without dry firing, or to cock the rifle if necessary, for example to attempt a second strike on a round that failed to fire. This was implemented from the U.S. model of the Krag–Jørgensen rifle.