Front sight protector

Is the front sight protector used while shooting?,or taken off?John

They stay on unless you have some reason to adjust the front sight and it is adjustable.

Aragorn,

I believe you are incorrect about the front sight on a Springfield 1903 being adjustable. The front sight base of the 1903A3 is fixed. No adjustment except for exchange of different height sight blades. The 1903 base that holds the sight blade has a hole at the front which the sight base screw fits in. Again, there is no adjustment except for exchange of blades. My 1941 Remington 1903, one of the last of the Model of 1903s made, has the blade base hole. You may find some replacement bases without the hole.

As to whether to remove the protector or not. I believe they were not made for use while firing. You will note that the sight picture is confusing with the protector in place. The Marine Corps solved this problem be creating a protector with a larger covering for the blade. The USMC protector did not interfere with the sight picture.

Happy Shooting

RBruce is correct, they are not adjustable. There is nothing to adjust on the A3, except changing out the blade.

The 03's movable stud was adjusted at the factory. After zeroing, the stud was drilled for the stud screw and the stud and base staked together. That is why replacement studs are not drilled yet. So, not really adjustable for windage.

I would go a step further. The hood on the 03-A3 sight protector is so small the sight is virtually unusable with it in place. Its main purpose was to protect the rifle in transit.

Regards,

Jim

Thanks Mike D for explaining why some sight blade bases do not have the hole for the sight screw.

the word,,,,protector......says it all, should only be used to protect the front sight blade during transport, and should be removed for use.

Sorry, poor choice of words on my part. I meant to say "if" it is adjustable. I didn't know and was too lazy at the time to go get it out of the safe to check. Now I know. I also did not know you can switch the front blades and that is VERY good to know.

As for off or on, I guess it's up to your personal preference but I'm sticking with it should be left on for the following reasons.

Every battle rifle I own or have used which was built from WWI to the present day has front sight protectors. Most are permanently affixed, some can be removed easily, some with great difficulty, some with a few minor tools. All are designed to see the sight through them whether they are permanent or not.

The 03A3 sight protector is one of those requiring minor tools. If it was intended to be removed for shooting, it would come off easier.

And finally and probably most telling, the US Marines didn't like it so they designed their own which is permanently attached.

The front sight needs protection from more than just transport. Standard combat is when the protection is also going to be needed.

Impossible to get a decent sight picture on and 03-A3 with the sight protector in place. The A blade is almost as tall as the sight protector. None of the permanent sight protectors interfered with aiming the rifle, which the 03-A3 sight protector does.

Again, I have to disagree. I have no problems acquiring a proper sight picture with the protector in place. It's all in what you're used to. I rarely use open sights but I am used to using peep sights and having a large sight system on the front of the barrel from my prior service. The protector is not an issue.