What is the range of the M1903?

• A. 2500 yards
• B. 3000 yards
• C. 4000 yards
• D. 3500 yards

Answer: (D)

Range means how far the bullet can travel before it lands, given the rifle and ammunition. For the M1903 Springfield firing standard .30-06 ammunition, the documented maximum range is about 3,500 yards. This maximum comes from the physics of ballistic flight: the bullet leaves the muzzle with high velocity, climbs and then is pulled down by gravity and slowed by air resistance, and under the right elevation (near a 45-degree angle) it can cover roughly 3,500 yards before hitting the ground. In practice, soldiers engage effectively at much shorter distances—often up to 1,000–2,000 yards depending on visibility and conditions—but the farthest distance the round can travel is around 3,500 yards. The other numbers are either lower than this maximum or not the standard maximum range for the M1903.