Do I feel like a Dipstick!

[Picknlittle]

A few weeks ago I complained about the safety on my newly acquired 1903A3 releasing the plunger after touching the trigger, then simply removing the safety.

Can you say operator error?!! Duh!

Turns out that since I'd never fired an 03A3, I didn't realize the safety requires some effort to set, and the safety tab should be pointing straight up when set. I was lifting the safety with my thumb to the point of resistance leaving the tab at about a forty five degree angle. This did effectively prevent the gun from firing,....until I lowered the safety tab again, then the plunger would slam forward to fire the round.

Had I pushed a good bit harder to see the safety tab had farther to go, I would have realized what was happening. However, when the safety is set, the tab rest against the scope, making it difficult to release while sighting, especially with a gloved hand.

Should the safety be that stiff? Is there an adjustment to lighten it up?

 

[gamachinist]

The safties on all my 03 and 03A3's are fairly stiff.
It actually has three positions:
Left or 9:00 is fire,
Straight up or 12:00 is safe with the striker locked but the bolt is unlocked allowing it to move to empty the magazine,
Right or 3:00 locks the striker and the bolt.

 

[Clemson]

You need to replace that safety lever with one that is made for scope use. It will clear the bell of your scope. The safety is stiff to apply but not nearly as stiff to take off-safe. The reason for the stiffness is that it is camming back the firing pin assembly. The good news is that it also blocks that assembly and not just the trigger. If the safety is properly installed, the rifle will not fire when you push the safety from "safe" to "fire." Here is a link to one Springfield safety that can be used: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5686&title=MARK+II+SAFETY

Clemson

 

[Picknlittle]

THANKS!!!!