1903a3 help

[USinDistress]

So I recently came into possession of a 1903a3. I've done some research on it an found that the front sight is not original and that it's missing it's rear sights. I was wondering if any one could give me some insight on this rifle.







Again I don't know much about this rifle other then it's a 03a3. Also if this is insane wrong forums please guide me in where to post it. Thanks for your times guys.

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[mike415stone]

Sporter of a fine milsurp rifle. The person who did that should be horse whipped

[milotrain]

Everyone used to sporterize 03A3s, can't whip them all. Looks like it was at least a decent job.

[russ69]

Everyone used to sporterize 03A3s, can't whip them all. Looks like it was at least a decent job.

Pretty much this.

[joefrank64k]

1903a3 help

Everyone used to sporterize 03A3s, can't whip them all. Looks like it was at least a decent job.

I agree...it was the thing to do. I've got a 1888 Trapdoor that I inherited from my Uncle. He picked it out of a barrel of them at the hardware store back in the 40's for about $5.00. Lots of his buddies sporterized them. Thankfully he didn't

[USinDistress]

I didn't put the stock on it, unfortunately that's how I got it. I wish it had the original stock as I think it looks way better.

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[joefrank64k]

I didn't put the stock on it, unfortunately that's how I got it. I wish it had the original stock as I think it looks way better.

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USiD...we didn't think you did, it's just tough for some of us to see a cool milsurp rifle sporterized

On the plus side, it looks like a decent conversion.

[USinDistress]

USiD...we didn't think you did, it's just tough for some of us to see a cool milsurp rifle sporterized

On the plus side, it looks like a decent conversion.

Thanks man. Yea I felt the same way when I saw the stock too. I threw a Monte Carlo stock on my mosin just because they're dirt cheap and I have 2 others. The 03a3 looks good but I need a rear sight and can't figure out what this one piece is. I'm guessing it's aftermarket because it's obviously not original. I'm assuming it's a scope mount or a sight mount or something.

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[mosinnagantm9130]

Everyone used to sporterize 03A3s, can't whip them all. Looks like it was at least a decent job.

Hell, I have an inherited sporter 1903, and I'm as big a purist as you'll find

[MeatyMac]

Post a picture of the top of the receiver, I'd like to see if the whole sight dovetail is still there. Does the top of the front receiver ring have any screw hole in it?

There are a couple of ways you can go here, all are somewhat easy as long as the rear sight dovetail wasn't touched and is in its original shape.

Here are your options,
1) Leave it as is.
2) Buy a USGI 1903A3 rear sight and screw. New ones are on eBay and Gunbroker. This is a direct replacement and your easiest option, though the USGI sight doesn't give you fine adjustment.
3) Buy a Redfield micrometer rear sight, I forget the number but can get it if you want to go this way. These sights are not made any longer but they pop up on eBay for $100-125. This option will require that you drill and tap two holes on the right side of the rear receiver ring.
4) Scope it with a Redfield base and 1" rings, this route will require that you drill and tap one hole on the top of the front receiver ring. Original Redfield base and rings will set you back $175-200 because they're out of production and guys use them to build reproduction 1904A4 sniper rifles, but new, quality, current production base and rings sets are available for about $100.

[edgerly779]

Use it cannot be restored too mil easily. Good sound hunting rifle now

[milotrain]

looks like you have the dovetail for the old original sight, but the sight was removed so that safari style sights could be used. It will be hard to get a rear sight in the old location to work with the sight in the front due to dissimilar heights, but you could modify both.

My preference would be to mount something like an RPA tracker. Something like the Lyman 90 or Williams sights travel below their mountain point so you would need to cut into the stock to mount them. The front sight for an RPA tracker, centra or similar will need to be quite high.

The easiest solution would be a modified version of this, especially if you intend to zero it for a specific distance/load.

[MeatyMac]

Here's another option for a scope base, the Insta Mount for the 1903A3 requires no drilling

http://www.brownells.com/optics-mounting/rings-mounts-amp-bases/rifle-bases/1903-a3-springfield-dovetail-in-rear-weaver--sku794001033-12461-29490.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopping-_-794001033-794001033-10255&gdftrk=gdfV21820_a_7c187_a_7c1021_a_7c794001033_d_794001033_d_10255

[NapalmCheese]

Sporter of a fine milsurp rifle. The person who did that should be horse whipped

It was a rifle that to a civilian had tons of superfluous crap on it that needed to be removed. Someone decided to make it more useful for their purposes.

I didn't put the stock on it, unfortunately that's how I got it. I wish it had the original stock as I think it looks way better.

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If you want an 03A3 in military trim you should just buy one. No reason to bubba surp this fine example of the American sporterizing tradition into a mixmaster military 'restoration' with 5 different years worth of parts.

That being said I've got half a mind to find a cheap already messed with mauser style actioned rifle and turn it into a scout project. Partly because it'd be fun, partly because I want to hear people 'internet yell' at me for "destroying a part of history..." and mostly because I want to hear all of the same people say "That came out great, no bubba there!" when I'm done.

[USinDistress]

Post a picture of the top of the receiver, I'd like to see if the whole sight dovetail is still there. Does the top of the front receiver ring have any screw hole in it?

There are a couple of ways you can go here, all are somewhat easy as long as the rear sight dovetail wasn't touched and is in its original shape.

Here are your options,
1) Leave it as is.
2) Buy a USGI 1903A3 rear sight and screw. New ones are on eBay and Gunbroker. This is a direct replacement and your easiest option, though the USGI sight doesn't give you fine adjustment.
3) Buy a Redfield micrometer rear sight, I forget the number but can get it if you want to go this way. These sights are not made any longer but they pop up on eBay for $100-125. This option will require that you drill and tap two holes on the right side of the rear receiver ring.
4) Scope it with a Redfield base and 1" rings, this route will require that you drill and tap one hole on the top of the front receiver ring. Original Redfield base and rings will set you back $175-200 because they're out of production and guys use them to build reproduction 1904A4 sniper rifles, but new, quality, current production base and rings sets are available for about $100.

I don't see any screw holes (that's what she said lol) also it has this guy on it which I'm not sure what it is but I know it's after market

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