03 Springfield scope mounting question UPDATE!

[sghart]

I have a project rifle that I want to add a scope to. I have posted this question on other forums so if you have replied there I appreciate it. With different forums I get different ideas and that's good.

I bought this rifle several years ago. It had the receiver sight installed and that is what I have used for a long time. Now I want to scope it. As you can see there are holes already that were poorly done. When I bought the rifle they were a concern but I got it so cheap I didn't care.

So far I have looked at 2 options. I bought a set of the Weaver mounts, two piece. I also bought a picatinny rail from EGW that is undrilled. I was thinking of using the pic rail and having the rail drilled for the rear hole on the rifle. Then having holes drilled in the reciever and matching holes in the front of the pic rail.

I should note that the rear most hole in the front is not through all the way. It looks like the tap broke off in there. Also, the front hole does not seem to line up so I'm thinking 2 new holes would be needed for the front.

If I went with the Weaver mounts the rear would have to have 2 new holes drilled or drill the mount itself for 1 hole. Quite a conundrum.

I am open to suggestions. And thanks for your time.

03...2.jpg

[ar15barrels]

I would setup the receiver in the milling machine and see if any of those holes are actually in the center of the receiver.
If one of them is centered, I would use that one and drill 3 more that avoid the other holes which are not centered.
Some 1903's are really hard to drill and tap.
I have worked out a system to spot-anneal holes that I drill with carbide tooling to make them easier to tap.

[Sailormilan2]

I think that the holes need to be repositioned and redone. The rear most hole looks to be drilled into the rear looking lug of the receiver, and that’s not good.

[kendog4570]

I would plug all the existing holes with 6-48's soldered in and then install the new bases or rail properly centered on the ring and bridge. Plug them all so no worries about having to cut through and tap half of an existing hole. No need for the blank rail.
Last time I saw this it had a broken tap in the ring. Get it out?

[sghart]

I would plug all the existing holes with 6-48's soldered in and then install the new bases or rail properly centered on the ring and bridge. Plug them all so no worries about having to cut through and tap half of an existing hole. No need for the blank rail.
Last time I saw this it had a broken tap in the ring. Get it out?

No it's still in there.

For you guys on the forum Kendog had this rifle some time ago to re-barrel it for me. He did an excellent job and the rifle shoots awesome. He offered to address the hole issue at the time but I foolishly passed up the offer.

But that's the story of my life in a nutshell.

[kendog4570]

No it's still in there.

For you guys on the forum Kendog had this rifle some time ago to re-barrel it for me. He did an excellent job and the rifle shoots awesome. He offered to address the hole issue at the time but I foolishly passed up the offer.

But that's the story of my life in a nutshell.

No worries. If you dont get it done by anyone there, I can do it for you. It'll be a while before I have the new shop set up here in Free America. FFL is valid at new address, just dont have any machines set up yet.

[sghart]

I got my rifle back from J&G Gunsmithing here in Granite Bay. They did an outstanding job. I am very happy with the results.

I can definitely recommend these folks.

[jtv3062]

This might be the scope base you're looking for. My project 03a3 came with Buehler mount and rings.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/category/scopesmounts/mountsbases/buehler