Springfield 1903 Questions

[Hungry1]

I bought a Springfield 1903 about 10 years ago at a gun-show.

The receiver has been drilled and tapped for a scope. I don't think it came from the factory this way.

The date stamped on the barrel is Oct/1918.

Couple questions:

• Is it possible to add a "peep" type rear sight?
• The receiver has been drilled. Am I ruining a piece of history if I change the sight?

The rifle is very accurate, however the "type 4 leaf sight" on it is awkward.

Thanks for any input.

Some really crappy cell pics:

Date


Type 4 Sight/Drilled receiver


Drilled receiver

 

[Malamute]

Since your gun is already drilled and tapped for scope bases, drilling the side of the receiver for a receiver peep sight probably isnt going to lower the value any more. You may want to remove the leaf sight parts as they will be in the way of sighting with a peep sight. Lyman made a couple different models, though the later number 57 will probably be less expensive than older types. Dont try to remove the sight base, its sweated and pinned onto the barrel.

From the barrel date, and what shows of the serial number, it looks like its above the "low number" point, and should be fine to shoot with standard loads.

 

[Hungry1]

Thanks Malamute.

The sight I'd like to install is the type pictured below. I'd like to know if I can pull the two screws drilled into the rear of the receiver and install it there.

I'm aware of the date and the unsafe metallurgy issues. I've shot some factory 180 gr rounds that were outstanding accuracy wise. At the time I was using the Battle Sight notch. Not realizing that the notch is for 400 yards....I had look for my impacts! I found an incredibly tight group, about 15" above the bulls eye.

 

[Malamute]

That sight is for the WWII variant of the 1903, the 03-A3. The rear receiver bridge was machined differently, and has an inverted dovetail for the sight to press/slide on to. You may find a gunsmith that could make an adapter that would accept that sight and screw down to the scope base holes you have. Using a steel scope base may be the best starting point, and would be contoured to the receiver already, saving machine time. Weaver may have made the correct scope base in steel, Warn also may have. You could check the available aluminum ones to be sure the holes are a standard spacing before investing in a steel one. A good gunsmith or machinist could build the part from scratch without too much drama though.

Some guys make a new front sight blade to be able to zero the barrel sight at closer range than 400 or 547 yards (I think the official battle sight zero range).

Those sights have gotten expensive. It used to be old time gunsmiths had piles of them in their junk boxes from taking them off guns when sporterizing them. I've bought them for $5 or so several times, but they seem to sell for more from the parts houses now. Checking odd parts boxes at gun shows often turns up deals on obscure parts.

 

[cuervo]

The 1903A3 sight you have pictured requires a dovetail on a flat spot of the receiver, which the 1903 doesn't have. I'm not sure that you can take the A3 sight apart enough to get to where you could drill holes in it, and you would be mounting a flat surface to a round surface which would be difficult to align.

An alternative might be to find a small length of rail with a round bottom that would sit flush to the round receiver, and then put some type of AR15 BUIS on it.

You might try asking on the Jouster web site, which is more dedicated to military rifles.
http://www.jouster.com/forums/forum.php

[Malamute beat me to it while I was getting kids to bed.]

 

[Hungry1]

I appreciate the info fellas.

I cast and reload. I'll probably just keep it as is and find a lead-boolit/powder combination that works well with the battle sight notch.

Thanks again.

 

[Malamute]

If you go sniff around on the surplusrifle forum, they have a thread thats stickied about making a front sight to zero at 100 yards with the battle sight notch. Its pretty simple really.

You can also turn up the leaf and use the peep on the barrel sight for various ranges. Not as good as one on the receiver, but a little better than the open notch and it adjusts pretty easily.

 

[Hungry1]

If you go sniff around on the surplusrifle forum, they have a thread thats stickied about making a front sight to zero at 100 yards with the battle sight notch. Its pretty simple really.

You can also turn up the leaf and use the peep on the barrel sight for various ranges. Not as good as one on the receiver, but a little better than the open notch and it adjusts pretty easily.

Thanks. I'll look for it.

Thinking about it. It would appear that you have to raise the front or lower the rear???

I wonder how they do it. I'm interested.

 

[Malamute]

I was curious, so went and looked. Its been a while since I was on that site.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=275&sid=4582c317135198648d99189f99f5ea26

To lower the group, you need to raise the front sight (taller blade) or lower the rear sight. The link discusses the different front sight blades used by the armories to sight the rifles in, and how people make their own to sight the rifles in.

 

[Hungry1]

I was curious, so went and looked. Its been a while since I was on that site.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=275&sid=4582c317135198648d99189f99f5ea26

To lower the group, you need to raise the front sight (taller blade) or lower the rear sight. The link discusses the different front sight blades used by the armories to sight the rifles in, and how people make their own to sight the rifles in.

Wow.

I earn my living as a carpenter. I'm familiar with the materials listed. Looks like an interesting project.

Thanks again

*EDIT

The front sight pin is soaking Kroil

 

[Garrobo]

It's already

drilled anyway. Go ahead. There are probably tens of thousands of these rifles around and only a few models are really "collectable". Most are shooters.

 

[Hungry1]

I got that Son of Gun apart .

Not without some cussin and a little aggravation though. I think there's a good chance that those parts haven't been disassembled in almost 100 years.

Anyway, using the math from the link in Malamute's post, .008" = 1" at 100 yards, I was able to to find a replacement on E bay. I ordered a blade at .535". It should get me close to where I need to be at 100 yards. We'll see. Thanks again for the help!

 

[Offfhand]

Mr. Hungry, if you wish to improve performance of your '03 using metallic sights, here are a couple suggestions: The attached photos show a vintage Lyman 48 "peep" sight mounted on the '03 I used in big bore competition for many years. It is attached by a couple screws in side of receiver bridge, a simple gunsmithting job. Since your rifle has already been somewhat altered this further alteration will no further reduce it's value. So don't worry about it. The Lyman globe type front sight fits in the existing dovetail of your front sight fixture with no further alteration. Though these sights are no longer manufactured they are often offered on ebay and other trading sites. Hope these suggestions are helplful.

 

[highpower]

The attached photos show a vintage Lyman 48 "peep" sight mounted on the '03 I used in big bore competition for many years.

^^^^^This^^^^^

There is just no real comparison between the stock '03 sights and the Lyman 48/front globe combo. I have a very nice Lyman 48 that I have been sitting on for almost twenty years while waiting for the right rifle to put it on.

I do have a similar set up on a Swede M96 with the Swedish Diopter sights and it truly makes a big difference.