1903 Peep Sight Choice-Redfield or Lyman vintage

[mustanger98]

My basic problem is that I am familiar with the military issued sights but have little to no familiarity with the sporting peep sights that were used. Most of the information on older peep sights is really not on the internet other than brief discussion of the models on a specific rifle so I figured the collective knowledge of the THR folks would help.

I do have a spare 1903 sight and platform but a) I am getting older and open sights are getting harder to use, b) I am using the mounting screws of the peep sight to help support the headspacing block necessary for the conversion.

Thing is, whichever sight you use, your mounting screws have to be longer than usual.

 

[boom boom]

Thing is, whichever sight you use, your mounting screws have to be longer than usual.

Yes and a bit harder and tougher too due to what I am using them for.

 

[boom boom]

After some consideration, I am probably going to use 18/8 stainless screws as the sheer strength is about 40k psi + which is well above any .22 LR. Currently have a bid out on a vintage ap sight so I will see what happens.

 

[elmbow]

For reasons explained below, I need to choose whether to use a Redfield or Lyman


I am just now getting around to finishing a multi year project. In essence, it is converting a 1903 receiver to function with a m1922 M2 bolt plus an original m1922 M2 Barrel as a .22LR rifle in a full military stock etc to avoid confusing someone that it is actually an M2. The conversion from .30-06 to .22LR itself is not really an issue as it has been done before and this rifle is assembled via parts and not by stripping active rifles by me. The receiver itself was poorly d&t on top and it was a high numbered receiver so safety on that count is not an issue. These holes will be filled with plug screws.

However, one of the issues involved with this particular conversion is that a genuine m1922 receiver has a solid headspacing surface on the receiver's right rear. The m1922 M2 bolt bears only on a single lug at the rear (and the m2 has a screw to adjust headspace on that receiver. Fitting an M2 bolt to a 1903 receiver that has a bolt raceway for the right bolt lug cut out of it requires for safety and headspacing reasons to fix a solid plug to fill the 1903 right rear bolt raceway. The usual procedure is to use silver hi temp solder with retaining screws to reinforce the joint. This gives a solid space for headspacing and for safety rather than relying on the thin walls of the regular 1903 receiver at that point.

Now, if I am going to have these screws to reinforce the plug in the receiver anyway, I figured that I would go ahead and mount a peep sight to the rear using these two screws anyway.

Now the choice is between a Lyman 48 sight or a Redfield. As most folks having these sights know, vintage peep sights have grown in popularity and thus price as they have not been made in decades. What I am asking is an informed opinion and comments by folks that have used either of these sights on a springfield 1903 as to their recommendations of which one to choose and why. I am agnostic about the different models which varied over the years. Please help my decision of which one to choose.

 

[elmbow]

A little late here but my vote goes to Redfield if fit wise there is no difference. Redfields are historically correct for the 1903s. Their quality is equal to the Lyman and they can be had for half the cost of the Lymans. Collectors are driving the inflationary prices on the Lymans. I own a half dozen bolt actions with period correct receiver sights, all of them Redfields, some with target knobs, others with hunter knobs. Far and away I prefer the target knobs for dialing elevation. Makes taking the '03 from 200 yards to 600 yards a piece of cake. $70 will buy a very nice Redfield. Equivalent Lymans will be double that. Or more.