1903 Springfield Article

[Gil Martin]

Here is a letter that I wrote to Guns & Ammo. Sometimes they print my letter. I just want readers to get it right and not be confused about the magazine cutoff.

I read every article I find written by Garry James and really enjoy them. In the November 2012 issue of Guns & Ammo, he made error regarding the magazine cutoff operation on a 1903 Springfield rifle. Garry says ..."there was a cutoff that-when in the up position-allowed the gun to be fired as a single shot. With the cutoff in the down position, cartridges could be chambered from the integral box magazine..." This information is not correct.

My 1903 Springfield rifles have a magazine cutoff that works just the opposite of what Garry has written. Thanks for an informative article. All the best....
Gil