Another 1903a3 question

[jcw1970]

I've been looking at this one at the local shop but it doesn't have the original sights. they been replaced with lyman sights. does this really matter? i'll use it to punch paper so i don't mind. plus it has a 4 groove barrel that looks new.

[Buckshot]

............Lots of Springfields had Lyman sights added. If you're wanting an "As issued" Springfield you have a problem. However if you're wanting a Springfield treated the same way thousands were, yet retained their military provenience to be used in matches it sounds like what you're looking for.

..............Buckshot

[Freightman]

According to DeHass in his book some were equipped with the Lyman for accuracy purposes.

[leadman]

If the barrel hasn't been shortened and the stock cut down it probably would not be too difficult to find the original sights if you really wanted them.

Some matches allow modified sights in a seperate category from issue sights, some don't. If you don't shoot matches that Lymans will probably allow finer adjustment.

[doctorxring]

.

Does it look like this ?

If so, I would buy it. In fact, I recently bought the one in the top picture.
It's a "put together", but it's sweet.




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/M1903A3NM.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/1903A3NM.jpg

[jcw1970]

the one i'm looking at doesn't have the c stock.

[jcw1970]

Well I took it home with me. Got it apart and low and behold the lyman on the front is a 17A XNB. It's strange cause it has to be way older than the 57 that's on the rear. I think it had a different rear sight on it at one time. The 57 isn't centered and the stock has a piece cut out right under the sight. You can see it in the first picture, the dark spot almost in the middle under the sight. Anyone have any ideas what rear sight it could have been? Do you need to cut the stock for a Lyman 48S? The stock has been refinished. You can't even read the markings. It looks pretty though. I'm putting a Timney trigger in it and I've ordered a C stock from the CMP.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Excuse my ignorance, but whats a C stock.

[jcw1970]

the stock has a pistol grip. look a couple a posts above.

[Bob S]

It appears that then gallows arm of the rear sight covers the clip seat. My guess would be, therefore, that the rifle originally was mounted with a Redfield 70S. The hole spacing for the Redfields and Lymans is the same, but the longitudinal location is slightly different.

Redfield 70ST:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MRRearsight.jpg

Lyman 48:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Lyman48.jpg


Or it could be that the Lyman rear sight was installed by a "gunsmith" that didn't know what he was doing. If it's to be used as an "across the course" rifle, you need to be able to load with chargers, and you clearly can't do that now.

BTW, the illustration of the "type-whatever NM" from Harrison's book is totally bogus. No such rifles were ever prepared at the governement armory, they are all civillian make-ups by guys like me, 45 or more years ago. It used to be amusing when one of my old rifles would turn up, and the owner tells me it's "National Match" ... but it's getting old, because of the ignorance that is being perpetuated.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/Springfield%2003s/Classic%2003A3%20MR/Classic03A3MR.jpg

I would try a Redfield, or even a Williams FP, to see if you can get a clear clip slot. The base of the Lyman 48 is slightly different than the 57, so if you can find a Lyman 48 to try, maybe it would work. I never used the 57 because it doesn't have a positive slide lock, and has too much slop and often not enough elevation for precision shooting at the mid ranges (500-600 yards). Forget about 1000 yards with it.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[jcw1970]

Well I found a 48S. WoW. It doesn't have target knobs and looks like it's been sitting outside for the last 50 years. Guy still wants $150 for it. Guess I'll have to wait a little longer. The cutout on the stock isn't that wide. I'll have to get a better picture of it.

[jcw1970]

I got a better look at a 48S and I think that's what was on it. It looks like the nut on the bottom of the sight is all they made room for on the stock.

[jcw1970]

I got around to slugging the barrel and to my suprise it came up .3090. Not bad for a 5-43 4 groove barrel.

[leadman]

I have an old Smith Corona that was sporterized when I bought it. It has a scope on it now but think it would look good set up with the reciever sight and front sight as in these pictures.

What brand and number is the front sight that is used on these rifles? I have a couple reciever sights removed from Mausers that may work on the rear.

[zomby woof]

Nice rifle!!!

[dogbert41]

I still haven't gotten to the rifle casting yet, but I have a Mossin and a sporterised Rock Island 1903 waiting in anticipation this summer!

[1hole]

"replaced with lyman sights. does this really matter?"

The Lyman 48 is a good sight. If it doesn't matter to you as a "collector item" it doesn't matter at all.

I pulled the 48 slide out of mine to protect it during a move years ago and have never been able to find it. And refuse to buy one at the going rate. I'll bend the bolt handle and just scope it first.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I'd like one of those!

[Char-Gar]

I have always used the Lyman 48 with the long slide and yes you have notch the stock. I have mounted three of them on 03 and 03A3 rifles. Lyman made different sight bases for the 03 and 03A3. But the base for the 03A3 will mount right on the 03 and the base for the 03 can be used on an 03A3 if you take a little off the top rear edge so it will fit under the rifles rear sight base.

If, I were you, I would spend some time shooting that rifle, before I spent money on a new stock or rear sight. I suspect you will be happy with what you have, the way it is.

Unless you plan on shooting in organized military style matches, I think you have a fine rifle.

I have Lyman 48s, 57s and 66s on rifles and they all do the job. The 48 of course is the gold standard with the repeatability of adjustments you need for competition. The others work just fine for ordinary hunting and recreational shooting.

[jcw1970]

Finally got my stock from CMP today. They sent me the wrong one! They sent a 03 stock instead of a 03A3. Didn't realize this till I had it fitted to my timney trigger. Hope they will exchange it.