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US M1903-A4 & USMC M1903-A1/Unertl
US Army File Photo
| Calibers: |
.30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm) |
| Magazine: |
5 round internal box magazine. |
| Barrel Length: |
24" (610mm) |
| Barrel Profile: |
2 Grooves, LH Twist, cut-rifled (early rifles)
4 Grooves, LH Twist, draw rifled (later rifles) |
| Weight: |
9.38 lbs (4.34 kg) |
| Overall Length: |
43.21" (1098mm) |
| Stock: |
Type "C" (early rifles)
"Scant" grip (later rifles) |
| Sights: |
M73B1 2.5x Telescopic site (Weaver 330C) - No Iron Sites
The M81, M82, and M84 were also used on the M1903-A4 (late WWII and Korea)
Unertl 8x (USMC M1903-A1/Unertl) - With Iron Sites |
| Features: |
Conversion to sniper rifles done by Remington Arms. |
The M1903-A4 was a specifically designed sniper rifle that came as a result of early U.S.
combat involvement in the Pacific. There was a high demand, that could not be filled, for
telescopic (sniper) rifles. The Infantry Board and the Ordanance Department conducted an
evaluation and recommended that the Weaver 2.5x 330C hunting telescope be adopted for use
on M1903 and M1903-A1 rifles. The rifle was officially adopted on 14 Jan 1943 as the
M1903-A4 (sniper).
M1903-A4 (sniper's) with M73B1 Telescope (Paul Oats Private Collection)
The M1903-A4 was an accurate rifle with an effective range of about 600 yards (550m), with
the main limit on long range accuracy coming from its very low power scope (2.5x). From
its adoption in 1943 until the end of the war, the M1903-A4 was used extensively in every
theater of operation by both the US Army and the USMC. The rifle was again used in the korean
conflict, and even in the early stages of the Vietnam conflict when sniper rifles were in
severe shortage. The M1903A4 is a legendary classic sniper rifle. It served with distinction
in WWII, Korea, and even Vietnam.
USMC M1903-A1 with Unertl 8x Telescope (USMC File Photo)
USMC M1903-A1/Unertl
Unlike the US Army, the USMC had a standard issue sniper rifle at the start of hostilities in WWII, it
was a M1903/Lyman 5A (5x), which was adopted (with the Winchester A5 Telescope) during WWI. After there
was a push to standardize sniper equipment, the Marine Corps Equipment Board did an extensive study
of optics under field conditions and recommended a scope of about 8x, with an objective lens of about
one and half inches, a medium fine crosshair reticle, and double micrometer quarter minute click mounts.
They specifically cited a 8x target scope made by John Unertl as being the best they found. They also
recommended the scope be mounted on a Winchester M70 target rifle, but the USMC decided on the M1903
based on favorable accuracy comparisons between specially selected M1903's and the M70. So the M1903-A1
mounted with the Unertl 8x became the "sniping standard" in the USMC.
The M1903-A1/Unertl was tested and at 600 yards and with M72 Match ammo would group 3.5 inches (.58 MOA, wow!!!) but match ammo was about impossible to come by during the war, so most snipers had to settle with
M2 Ball ammo, which was till respectable with groups coming in at 7.5" at 600 yards (1.25 MOA). The
M1903-A1/Unertl was used by the USMC through out WWII, along with the M1903-A4. The -A1/Unertl also saw use during the Korean war, with USMC snipers registering a number of kills out to 1000 yards. Like the M1903-A4
the M1903-A1/Unertl was a lethal system in the hands of a properly trained sniper during WWII and Korea.
Thanks to a viewer for this picture
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