Remington 1903 magazine catch assembly

[iron sights]

I finally got all the parts together to assemble my 1942 Remington 03 s/n 3225014 which is an 03 with the milled magazine/trigger guard not an 03A3. All went pretty well until I got to assembling the magazine catch. I have been trying to insert the pin through the trigger guard and catch with the spring in place but just cant get the hole in the catch to line up and allow the pin to slide in. I did check the pin and it fits both the trigger guard and the catch and it will slide in so the problem has to be alignment. I don't see any way to insert the spring after assembling everything else so I am wondering if there is a trick I don't know. If all else fails I'll grind a taper on a piece of drill rod to use as a drift but I thought I'd ask if there is a trick that I don't know. Any suggestions very welcome.

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[ArtPahl]

You have an interesting problem. Since it's been quite a while since I've done it, I took one of my '03's apart to check the magazine catch. I used a decapping pin assembly from a reloading die set as a drift and was able to push the cross pin out with little effort. It went back together easily, too. There is, I guess, no trick.

I wonder if you have a catch for a 1917 Enfield. The bottom surface is similiar but the top surface of the 1917 is flat while the 1903 is contoured. I suppose you could also have a defective 1903 catch. With war-time sub-contractor production that's a possibility that has to be considered.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.

[iron sights]

Thanks Art; you were a lot of help. I did finally get it using a #43 drill shank as a drift, wiggling the pin around until it started in, then using a 3/32 pin punch to drive it in. New problem is that it still won't latch securely. Thanks again for pointing out the difference between an 03 and 1917 catch; mine is definitely the correct 03 catch. Tomorrow I am going to disassemble it again, and clean everything thoroughly. If that doesn't work I'll get out the needle files and see if I can clean the catch up enough to work. As a last resort I'll buy another catch from Numrich.

[ArtPahl]

Before you go to Numrich, let me check my parts stock. Several years ago, I bought a batch of 1903 small parts on (I think) Gunbroker. They are in the origional military inventory packages. I've opened most of the packages, but put the parts back in them. I'm sure I have 3 or 4 of those catches that I'll never use. If you can't get yours to work, I'll send you one.

Update: I found 3 of 'em, still in unopened envelopes! Marked:
1005-513-5890
CATCH FLOOR PLATE
1 EA A 8-67
RK RGB

Might not be any better than what you have. Need any other small parts? There's a bunch of envelopes marked "spring" or "pin" and the part numbers (???). Got any use for stripped bolts; new in the wrapper, by Brown & Sharp or Smith Corona? There's even 3 unused 1903 trigger guards in with that batch.

[browningautorifle]

Need any other small parts? There's a bunch of envelopes marked "spring" or "pin" and the part numbers (???). Got any use for stripped bolts; new in the wrapper, by Brown & Sharp or Smith Corona? There's even 3 unused 1903 trigger guards in with that batch.

Sounds like you have enough to put up here on a WTS ad...bet you don't have them long...

[ArtPahl]

This is an aside from your original subject. The serial number of your rifle puts it solidly in the so-called "modified" range and I am curious as to what you can identify as different from Springfield, RIA, or early Remington rifles. I have 7 Remington 1903's in my collection, all have been altered to one degree or other so that the receiver is the only part that I can be sure is original. Per Joe Poyer's book, your rifle was built in 9/42. I have 2 in the "modified" range; built in 7/42 and 10/42. The only change I can see in the 7/42 is the tang drilled through for the rear action screw. The 10/42, however, has the flat tang with the hole drilled through, and the front of the cut-off boss not contoured. Of course, the bolt stop milling is long gone (I don't know when they stopped that). The drilled through tang appears to have been instituted earlier than the "modified" rifles. I have a 5/42 rifle with a serial number 50,267 below that of the first "modified" with the tang drilled through. I have 2- 2/42 rifles not drilled through.

[iron sights]

Just saw your post this AM so I got the rifle out to look. Attached are photos; the tang is drilled through and the cutoff looks like it what you refer to as contoured.
I bought it a parts gun price but when I started cleaning it was obviously worth saving as it was missing only the internal magazine parts. This rifle is certainly a rebuild though since the Remington barrel is dated 8/42 it may be original to the receiver. The stock it was in when I got it was a C stock with a drawing number, a serial number and a smooth butt plate with punch mark stippling. Another forum member advised that the stock was from a USMC marksmanship team rifle and offered to trade a nice straight grip stock and some cash for it to which I agreed.