Stock

OK, now I feel REALLY dumb. I assume the easiest course is to remove the front sight screw and slip the movable stud to the side for removal.

That's correct.

If your 1903A3 has a correct barrel, it does not have the set screw, the blade base is all one piece. You simply remove the very small sight blade pin, slide the blade out and "yes" all of the hardware does fit over the sight base. It's very easy, word of advice, get a punch the correct size, don't try anything else, it will raise hell with the pin and the hole.
The set screw holding the sight blade is a 1903 thing only, unless someone has fit a 1903 barrel on to an A3 action (which has happened before).

Randy is correct. With 1903A3's you just drift out the little pin and remove the sight blade. I've done several and they were easy to drift out.

I also agree to use the correct size drift pin punch, if you don't have one. It's a good investment anyway, just to have around for other uses.

what size punch?

This is from memory but I think the pin that secures the blade on both the 03 and the A3 are .050 inches in diameter.

I would guess it would be easier to only drive it out far enough to only remove the blade. Trying to keep track of the small pin and getting it restarted in the hole has always been a problem for me.
Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cmecha

what size punch?

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1/16th inch works fine.