'03A3 sight hood removal?

[usp_fan]

I have a Springfield 1903A3 that my father-in-law passed along to me. It is in very good shape and I enjoy shooting it. The front sight has a hood that sits very low to the front sight. This makes getting a good sight picture difficult. Many of the pictures I see of the A3's don't show this hood. How do I remove the hood without damaging it or the rifle? Is this advisable, or am I bordering on the realm of Bubba?

Thanks,

 

[Steve in PA]

The hood should just slide off. The hood was only used for protection when shipping the rifle. The GI's would then take them off.

I don't have one on my '03A3 either. Had her out at the range today.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I wish some smart guy would come up with a replacement hood of the right size, so you could shoot with the hood in place -- I have two 03A3s and an M1922 MKII.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I wish some smart guy would come up with a replacement hood of the right size, so you could shoot with the hood in place -- I have two 03A3s and an M1922 MKII.

Get a repro USMC hood (originals can fetch $100+), and use it with the standard A3 front sight. Plenty of room then

BTW: I keep a 1/8" thick 2" long brass rod handy for removal. Simply insert through the hood, grab it like a "T" handle, and pull for all your worth.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You wouldn't happen to have a source for repro USMC hoods?

 

[SigfanUSAF]

Vern,

I bought a few from Gun Parts Corp a few years back, but now it says they're out. I looked on ebay with no luck, but they pop up from time to time.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'll keep an eye open, then -- although the last dealings I had with Gun Parts Corp left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[jacobhh]

Gun Parts Corp left a bad taste in my mouth

.

I was thinking to pick up some milsurp parts from them, now
you've got me wary.
Would you elaborate?

 

[Ian Sean]

the last dealings I had with Gun Parts Corp left a bad taste in my mouth.

My .02, they have screwed up only 1 order of mine over the years, and had to send parts back and get the right stuff.

I have spent over $1000 with them just this year, about 5 or so orders. No problems recently and they ship fast. Also if you use the forum they have for questions about a gun or parts, they will help you out (just takes a day or so for a response). Good outfit in my opinion, been using them for almost 20 years now.

I remember the days I would look through that huge Phone Book sized catalog of parts and accessories and it was like the old Sears Christmas Wish book, but for gunnies!

 

[SigfanUSAF]

We order parts from GPC quite often, and problems range from incorrect parts to unuseable parts. However, their customer service is absolutely excellent, and they'll credit you for the return price of the wrong part(s) and shipping, and send you the right one if they can.

My impression is they probably have a loosely cataloged inventory, with stuff misplaced everywhere, with not enough people there who know what they're looking at. When you have that many used parts on hand, lord knows I wouldn't want to inventory and organize it

My dad has told me stories from when he was running Liberty Antique Gunworks in Cos Cob, CT back in the late 70s, he would ride up to West Hurley to pick out the S&W parts he wanted. I guess they had tractor trailer bodies full of 1903s for teardown, 55 gallon drums of Mauser bolts, and huge piles everywhere of just about anything you could imagine. With them being "sold out" of lots of military surplus parts these days, I'm sure things have changed a bit.

I was thinking to pick up some milsurp parts from them, now
you've got me wary.
Would you elaborate?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I was thinking to pick up some milsurp parts from them, now
you've got me wary.
Would you elaborate?

My most recent order was for a spare magazine for my Colt Woodsman. What they sent was, to put it politely, crap.