The Springfield M1903A3-A4 was a model of bolt-action sniper rifle that was used by Private Jackson in Saving Private Ryan. It was one of two standard issue sniper models of the Springfield 1903 used in World War Two, the other being the Springfield M1903A1.
History[]
The rifle was created in 1903 and replaced the Springfield Model 1892-99, M1895 Lee Navy, M1885 Remington-Lee, and the Springfield Model 1873.
In 1905, the U.S. Military adopted the rifle, and created the M1905 Bayonet, which was meant to fit on the 1903s. The M1906 .30-06 Caliber was made as it's standard ammunition.
In 1917, when America entered World War I, the M1903 was made the standard rifle for Infantry. After the war, the M1906 .30-06 Caliber was replaced by the M1 Caliber 30, a 174-grain boat-tail bullet. It was later replaced by the M2 Ball 150 grain bullet.
Springfield M1903A1 sniper rifle with forward mounted 7x Unertl Scope
Leading up to World War II the United States Marines having seen what a sniper could do during the events of World War I developed sniper trials to find their own standard issue sniper rifle. It was through these trials that the Marines decided that the Springfield M1903A1 equipped with a 7x magnification Unertl scope met the metrics to fulfill their combat needs. While the Springfield 1903A3-A4 equipped with 2.5x M73B1 scope was more favored by the Army for its sniper rifle during World War II. It should also be noted that while the M1903A3-A4 sniper variant did see use in both theatres of operation, the M1903A1 was only used by the Marines and therefore was relegated to the Pacific Theatre. The Springfield 1903 in these two variant forms saw use as a mainline sniper rifle in both Pacific and European theaters of operation and continued to see combat use during the Korean Conflict with very limited use by the time of the Vietnam War. It was ultimately replaced by the M1 garand and its sniper variant the M1C.
Erroneous Incompatibility[]
During the beach scenes Private Jackson is seen equipped with an M1903A3-A4 with its standard issue M73B1 2.5x magnification scope. However during the sniper duel and onward he has an Unertl 7x magnification scope. This would not have been possible given the conditions in the field but also due to the structural differences between the two scopes and the rifle itself. Their mounting bases being so different as to be incompatible with each other it would have required way more tools to achieve than would be possible to have been carried on one's person along with the weight of their deployment gear. It is also unlikely that Jackson being standard army would have an Unertl scope in his possession given that it was the designated equipment of the US Marines.
Later models of the Unertl scope had a recoil spring that would keep it seated after every shot. However the Marine version did not have such a spring leading to the shooter having to readjust the scope manually by pulling it back after the shot pushed it forwards. During the tower sniping scenes the scope is never readjusted after his shots which would ultimately be a slap on the wrist explanation for why his shots don't match up to where his reticle is pointing ontop of this equipment incompatibility. He also would not have been trained with the scope therefore he would not know how to use it correctly, let alone mount it by himself in the field with little to no tools on a scope base that it would never fit to without heavy modifications.