1903 rebuild barrel question

jrhines · Mar 20, 2012

I am rebuilding a 1903 Springer Mk I that has a 03A3 barrel on it. I want to install the ladder type rear sight. Would it be kosher to turn down the breach end to fit the rear sight tube? This would be about .075 loss of diameter, do you think that would seriously compromise the safety of the barrel? The barrel is a SA 2-44 that is in very good shape.

dprice3844444 · Mar 20, 2012

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4177

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=74420

http://criterionbarrels.com/productpages/1903.html

the time and money spent trying to recontour your 03a3 barrel might buy you a new criterion barrel.
that is unless you have free cnc capabilities

jrhines · Mar 20, 2012

Thanks DP, but a new one is not an option, unless it has the WW I/WW II markings on it. The supply of new or used '03 barrels has apparently dried up, with GB and eBay listings going for +$200 and up. If I can reuse the clients' barrel the head space should only need minor adjusting, if any. And it will have all the "proper" (in his eyes) markings on it. My concern was turning off 70 thous worth of metal off the breach, but I see from one of your links that it has been done before.

Old Dog Man · Mar 21, 2012

Turnind down 03 barrel

You can turn down the barrel for the sight to fit. Do you have the sight, I might have one, and I have a 1903 low serial no. action that is classed as unsafe to use, but the barrel is good. Al

Jim K · Mar 22, 2012

You will have to drill a hole for the cross pin, not an easy job. You can probably get away with not installing the alignment pin as that was just a means of keeping things together while the holes were drilled for the cross-pin. If the barrel diameter is small enough to allow the fixed sight base to fit without driving it on, I wouldn't depend on it staying in place without the cross pin. That base is pretty heavy and recoil can jar it loose.

You also should know that the "shelf" line on the base lines up with (and covers) the draw line on the barrel, so you don't need to do anything fancy to make sure the sight is level.

Jim

jrhines · Mar 23, 2012

...other than making sure the rear sight tube is on straight? I'll mill a tiny starter flat to drill the cross pin, should not be a big problem.
Thanks all for the words.
Now I'm looking for an '03 action wrench....
The joys of old milsurp smithing!

rcmodel · Mar 23, 2012

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=16140/Product/ACTION-WRENCH

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=25123/Product/1903-SPRINGFIELD-RIFLE-ACTION-WRENCH-HEAD

rc

Jim K · Mar 24, 2012

"other than making sure the rear sight tube is on straight?"

If the barrel draw line matches the receiver draw line, and the sight cut matches the receiver draw line, I guarandammtee you that the rear sight base will be level and line up with the front sight.

Jim

1903 rebuild barrel question

jrhines

Member

dprice3844444

member

jrhines

Member

Old Dog Man

Member

Jim K

Member.

jrhines

Member

rcmodel

Member in memoriam

Jim K

Member.

Similar threads