I don't need or want to hear about ruining this fine old collectible, I can no longer see well enough to use open sights and a weapon you cant use is a decoration. With that said, does anyone have any experience with scopes and mounts on this rifle.....
scoping the 1903a3
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Jeremy2171
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Get the S&K and you won't ruin it...I have one on mine and it works great with no mods. You "might" need different rings or modified bolt handle depending upon your scope size etc..
Sell the 03A3 for what they are going for lately, around 7-800 bucks and buy a Savage 110 with a scope. What is the use of turning a 800 dollar gun into a 200 dollar gun by drill and tapping it........but....it is your gun.....chris3
i know you said you didnt want to hear it, but thats just because you dont like being reminded that youre wrong. sell the rifle to someone who will appreciate it as the finest of the 1903s, and then go buy a modern rifle and a scope with the cash. i see a savage 110 with a leupold vx-ii in your future that will shoot a helluva lot better than the 03 would. and you wouldnt be destroying a piece of history.
but if you still want to go ahead with it, just take it to your gunsmith who is gonna drill and tap it for you. im sure he can recommend a mount. buy leupold rings. i also have some redfield rings i really like that were less expensive.
but if you still want to go ahead with it, just take it to your gunsmith who is gonna drill and tap it for you. im sure he can recommend a mount. buy leupold rings. i also have some redfield rings i really like that were less expensive.
Jeremy2171
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Guys the S&K mount is a "no-tap" mount. Nothing permanent done to the rifle and you can install it about 15 min or less...
Baba Louie
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An older 03-A4 I inherited has a one piece Redfield base, don't know the ring mfg and an old weaver 330 sitting up top, basically similar to the old sniper rifle of WWII days. Not the best optics available nowadays but it works.
Gibbs is tweaking some old 03-A3s into A4 clones... if they can do it and charge big bucks for their modification, you can probably do likewise for much less money... much to the chagrin of collectors today. 50 years ago, it was an inexpensive run o' the mill operation on a cheap milsurp. Nowadays, costs a bit more in both money and the passion generated by modifying something others feel strongly is wrong.
Baba Louie that isn't "simular" to a WWII sniper rifle. That IS a WWII sniper rifle. Obvious by the way the markings on the receiver is stamped so as to be able to read them with the mount in place. That rifle is worth some pretty big bucks. Got anymore pics. Wanna sell it?
Baba Louie
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It's an old DCM my Dad picked up when I was a kid back in 63 or 64 IIRC. I remember him taking off the rear sight and mounting the scope. Since the receiver was rebarrelled at some point I assume the front sight recess "I" slot wasn't park'd since he left it in place.
Got one more photo of it showing the front sight as well... bolts out tho'.
Looking at the photo below, I remember one more thing Dad did... took off the stamped trigger guard mag well and put an 03 milled on it in lieu thereof, which shows in this photo as well. I guess that was popular back then as you can dump the ammo from below if need be... I guess. I looked for the rear sight and triggerguard assembly thru his stuff after he passed, but alas... so it is that it's not "quite" authentic, just "mostly" authentic.
Sell it? I kinda already promised it to my grandson... but could re-negotiate with him I suppose, if I wanted to see his Dad (my son in law) cry a little bit.
1KPerDay
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yea my 03-a3 is another early 60's dcm dad bought.paid like 20 bucks for it 42/43 remington mint condition same barrel.he put those lyman target sights on it that they made fot it back them.used to go down to a range in engliston nj to shoot.had free unlimited ammo to use compliments of ft dix.
The stamped guard was thought to have too much 'spring' in it for proper stock clamping (see Clark Campbell's book) and the milled guard was preferred.
Baba Louie
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Mk VII
Learn something new every day I tell ya. Did not know that at all.
So Rob4570, did ya do some more thinking on things and if so, where ya headed with this here "older eyes needing new optics" thing? I spent a little time on gunbroker looking over '03 sporters... my my my how far the dollar has fallen, cause those things are getting pricey.
Lencac, I see whatcha mean on the A4 prices.
Didn't you do an A4 clone? A sorta super duper A4 clone w/ Krieger barrel? but not really real? (as in, not made to deceive anyone) I seem to recall reading a post a while back and drooling over a photo or three. Maybe rob can make his a similar clone but with newer optics.
I'd like to put some newer glass atop the old timer. It's only 12 years older than me, so whats that tell you about my eyes as well...(tho we both feel like we're younger inside where it counts, the rifle is in better shape than me by far) Maybe a variable lower powered 1.5x4 or a fixed 4x (keeping the other almost original optical accoutrements of course).
Learn something new every day I tell ya. Did not know that at all.
So Rob4570, did ya do some more thinking on things and if so, where ya headed with this here "older eyes needing new optics" thing? I spent a little time on gunbroker looking over '03 sporters... my my my how far the dollar has fallen, cause those things are getting pricey.
Lencac, I see whatcha mean on the A4 prices.
Didn't you do an A4 clone? A sorta super duper A4 clone w/ Krieger barrel? but not really real? (as in, not made to deceive anyone) I seem to recall reading a post a while back and drooling over a photo or three. Maybe rob can make his a similar clone but with newer optics.
I'd like to put some newer glass atop the old timer. It's only 12 years older than me, so whats that tell you about my eyes as well...(tho we both feel like we're younger inside where it counts, the rifle is in better shape than me by far) Maybe a variable lower powered 1.5x4 or a fixed 4x (keeping the other almost original optical accoutrements of course).
The "no drill and tap" mounts I've seen place the scope too high for proper cheek weld and natural handling of the gun.
I say if it's your gun, and you want to scope it, go right ahead. There are a number of decent mounts around. The classic looking one piece mounts look good on the 03's. Leupold (?), Redfield, and Bueler made one peice mounts for them. Most made for the A3 use the rear inverted dovetail sight base as a mount point, and the front two holes have to be drilled and tapped. Not sure of the rear is drilled and tapped.
I have two sporterized 03's. Besides sentimental value, I like them far more than original versions of the same gun. In original form, they are heavy clunkers, in sporterized form, they are fine, graceful, beautiful quick handling guns. Probably wouldnt choose to do it today, but already owning them, and them having been done when it was practical and relatively inexpensive, I have no regrets. They certainly have more character than anything made today.
I say if it's your gun, and you want to scope it, go right ahead. There are a number of decent mounts around. The classic looking one piece mounts look good on the 03's. Leupold (?), Redfield, and Bueler made one peice mounts for them. Most made for the A3 use the rear inverted dovetail sight base as a mount point, and the front two holes have to be drilled and tapped. Not sure of the rear is drilled and tapped.
I have two sporterized 03's. Besides sentimental value, I like them far more than original versions of the same gun. In original form, they are heavy clunkers, in sporterized form, they are fine, graceful, beautiful quick handling guns. Probably wouldnt choose to do it today, but already owning them, and them having been done when it was practical and relatively inexpensive, I have no regrets. They certainly have more character than anything made today.
Hey Baba Louie, you have a good memory. I have made a number of what I like to call 1903A4 hybrid.
Here's a few pics of my latest project. Let me know what you think. I made this one starting with a like new Smith Corona stripped barreled action. It's a perfect 4 groove barrel stamped SC 10-43 with flaming bomb. All the rest I put together. I assembled using all 1903 milled hardware. Brand new walnut stock and handguard. And as usual it is completely bedded at the rear tang, recoil lug and forearm with the stock being fitted to the action and barrel to allow perfect alignment for stress free mating to each other. With my blend of handloaded ammo (168gr.Sierra MK on top of 56gr. Reloder powder) it will consistantly shoot .750 in. groups with some being in the 1/2 in. range. at 100 yrds off the bench. But what did you expect ................. it's a genuine Lencac
Bona petite!
Here's a few pics of my latest project. Let me know what you think. I made this one starting with a like new Smith Corona stripped barreled action. It's a perfect 4 groove barrel stamped SC 10-43 with flaming bomb. All the rest I put together. I assembled using all 1903 milled hardware. Brand new walnut stock and handguard. And as usual it is completely bedded at the rear tang, recoil lug and forearm with the stock being fitted to the action and barrel to allow perfect alignment for stress free mating to each other. With my blend of handloaded ammo (168gr.Sierra MK on top of 56gr. Reloder powder) it will consistantly shoot .750 in. groups with some being in the 1/2 in. range. at 100 yrds off the bench. But what did you expect ................. it's a genuine Lencac
Bona petite!
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Baba Louie
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lencac,
freakin beautiful sir. Just simple 03 awesome-ness going on there. Well, maybe not so simple. You just make it look that way.
Hopin rob4570 is getting some good ideas on how to proceed because I'm loving this thread.
freakin beautiful sir. Just simple 03 awesome-ness going on there. Well, maybe not so simple. You just make it look that way.
Hopin rob4570 is getting some good ideas on how to proceed because I'm loving this thread.
To get back on the subject: Rob, it should not be difficult to find a gunsmith who has the proper jig to drill and tap for scope mounts. One-piece and two-piece base setups are readily available. A rework of the bolt handle is not any big deal, either.
Baba Louie, your holding easily a treasure, the receiver is correctly marked for an A4 model. Don't mess with it. It is like holding a bar of gold.
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