1903-A3 Experts

[Bill50]

I just bought a Remington 1903-A3. Couldn't resist and took it to the range right after.

I had a problem with the rear peep sight. The recoil of the gun knocks the peepsight backwards effectively increasing elevation with each shot.

The guy in the lane next to me said he had previously owned them and let me borrow a skewdriver to try to tighten the screw that holds elevation in place.

Didn't work, so I brought it to the range gunsmith who loosened the screw and said we probably couldn't tighten it down enough because it had been stuck in place.
Well we couldn't tighten it down more because we would have stripped the screw. His loosening it didn't work.

I googled and found that alot of 1903 owners have had the problem. Alot of suggestions about locktighting it or replacing the sigh, but taking the sight usually ruins the sight.

I bought the gun to shoot but it appears to be in original condition, so i dont want to alter it. I'm not seeing a good answer. A good answer would be one that keeps the gun in original condition, but does not permanently alter it. Does anyone have one?

 

[Bill50]

"But" should be "and" in the last sentence of my post. Can a mod alter it so we don't have bad grammar and delete this post? Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

You can go back and edit it yourself.

Just click the blue edit button at the bottom right edge of your post.

rc

 

[tark]

Are the threads on the screw stripped, of the threads on the sight? Most applications that involve a screw will specify that the screw be softer than the base it screws into. That way, the cheapest part is ruined while the more expensive part is still usable. The threads on the sight base may be usable If you can find a screw that matches your old one, you may be in business. Don't worry about length, you can always trim it down.

If that doesn't work, drill the hole one size larger, tap it with a bottoming tap, and you will be good to go with a new screw.

The only other option is to find a replacement sight which can be rather difficult.

 

[Bill50]

Nothing is stripped.

 

[Averageman]

Your options may be rather limited unless you want to go way in on this.
You can take the whole sight assembly and slowly take it apart and inspect each piece one at a time and find the culprit.
Go here
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...1/Springfield1903A3-42095/PartsList-42071.htm
see what you can figure out based on the schematic and see if they might have what you need.
Chances are something is out of spec and the only way your going to find it is with a close inspection. I would recommend you get a magnifying glass and some good lighting.

Also, check here.
https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/ammo-parts-accessories/

 

[rcmodel]

Take the screw and flat friction plate off.

If the plate has a cup bent in it around the screw hole??
Turn the plate over on a flat steel surface and smack the screw hole with a flat face punch to make it flat again.

If it's already flat, bend the end with the reference line in it down just a little to put more tension on the sight detents.

And make sure the detents in the ramp aren't full of dried cosomolene / dirt.
rc

 

[tark]

Duhhhh....If I had read the OP more carefully I would have noticed that nothing was stripped. Brain cramp.

Sometimes, in your situation the screw can't be tightened any further because it is bottoming out in the hole. Is that possibly what is happening here? If so, shortening the screw a little, (if THAT is possible) can sometimes allow it to be tightened sufficiently to do the job. Hope the solution is that simple, anyway. Good luck

 

[Bill50]

The screw is small enough that a regular gun kit is too big. I don't want to permanently alter a gun that was probably manufactured in WWII.

 

[forward observer]

You are correct in that rear sight issues are common to the 1903A3. The sight was an expedient made expressly to acquaint users to the sight system used for the M1 Garand. Fortunately the Garand's rear sight was a lot more robust.

Numrich has parts plus complete rear sight assemblies--both original and reproduction made to military specs.

Here's the starting page that has the friction plate that I think you are having the problem with. It's only a couple of dollars--probably less than the shipping costs.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...1/Springfield1903A3-42095/PartsList-42071.htm

Page 4 has some complete sight assemblies and page 6 has the basic yoke sub assembly.

Cheers

 

[P5 Guy]

https://www.amherst-depot.com/

Try this parts supplier

 

[jws916]

1903a3 rear sight

This should help, it's an article on rebuilding the rear sight. Good luck

 

[phil dirt]

You need a new aperture spring. While you're at it, get a new aperture spring screw, too. Numrich has them.