03A3 Running out of right windage

I recently bought a Remington 03-A3 Serial #396xxxx with a 5-44 barrel. All Remington. The rifle is breaking me in, then I will master it. However, I noticed today - first day on the range - that I had to turn the windage all the way to the right to zero the vertical. The right vertical line on the sight mount lines up with the one on the receiver. The gun is in excellent shape, extremely clean and appears all correct except for a new or refinished stock (the straight stock correct for this gun, one circle P cartouche behind the trigger guard). My question is this: Could I be causing the drift to the left on paper from my trigger finger or posture or some other user error, or is this a sight issue? I was shooting with the rifle bench rested under the front sling swivel at 25 yards and then at 100 yards.

I appreciate any response. -- Peter

You should have a 8 or 9-43 RA barrel on that '03-A3. Someone has rebarreled the rifle. There is a problem with the barreling job. Not sure if the barrel is properly indexed or not. Not a simple job, sorry. You recently bought it, correct? Any chance you can find the seller and ask him who put on the barrel? Good luck. Also, do you know who to spot a Drill Rifle? Just asking, in case.

Hmm. Well the drift doesn't go all the way over to the right, maybe I can live with it. Otherwise shoots tight groups. Do you know anyone in Southern California I could bring it to for a barrel check and fix? All I know about drill rifles is that they often have corroded bores from firing blanks and are worn.

Steve, thanks for the data. One more question, if the barrel hasn't been indexed properly, is this something that can be easily (not costly) fixed by a gunsmith?

Mac McCoy is THE garand Guru lives just south of you(Santee). Honestly don't know if he works on '03's or not. I know the guys in Northern Calif. who can help, not too up on you SoCal guys. Who sold it to you? He needs to get it right, not you.

I will check with the gunstore that sold it to me, but they are very as-is on used gun sales, even if this was a store gun. What I am trying to avoid is someone dicking around with it to try and get it right without knowing what they are doing. The store didn't do the rebarrel. They bought the gun from someone. I'd rather have it done right. But I will check with them. Thanks for your info.

Both the barrel and receiver have an "index" line. It is scribed on the left side and when they line up the barrel is "right". I'll bet this is gonna cost money to get fixed. Do you have a good gunsmith around you? He may have to pull the barrel off and start all over again. That is why it needs to go back to the seller. They need to figure this one out and on their dime, not yours. If you can get it fixed at around $100.00 you are OK.

Thanks Steve. I'm thinking that I should run another 20 rounds through this to make sure. The reason being is that when I had the rear sight in the center, I was shooting a 6.5 inch black zone in the 9 ring directly left pretty consistently at 25 yards. But when I moved the windage to the right I didn't get a corresponding move to the right, until I moved it to within 3 or 4 clicks of the end. Even then, I found myself posting the front sight at about 5:30 to compensate.

So, what I'm saying is that perhaps, somehow, my inexperience with this rifle and sight system might be called into question. So 20 more rounds and if no joy then it's off to thegun store for a song and dance.

sounds like someone didnt eat enough wheaties when they isntalled the barrel.
take the rifle out of the stock, and send me a picture of the left side of the receiver at the ring were the barrel meets the edge.
DONT SHOOT THE RIFLE UNTIL YOU FIX THE ISSUE.. safety first..

Dear Chuck, Not sure if I am short on Wheaties but I tried taking the uypper band off and couldn't. The disassembly instructions I was reading said if it was stuck to tap it with a wooden dowel. But even wailing on it, no budge. More force than that I am not comfortable with, in experienced as I am. Guess it's time to bring it in. Thanks for your offer of help, but unless I can get that band off, I can't show you the barrel/receiver connection.