Rear Trigger Guard Screw Bushing

I discovered today that my Remington 03A3 is missing the rear trigger guard screw bushing. I started noticing that a very small crack was taking place in the stock immediately behind the receiver tang. I took the gun apart and much to my surprise there was no bushing and the rear screw was being driven into the stock. Can someone give me an idea of the length of this bushing and the BEST place to find one? I checked the usual places and couldn't locate any. I may have to resort to some places I don't frequent much. Thanks, Rick

Try Bill Ricca or Springfield Sporters. Good luck.

I would be willing to bet that the front recoil lug area is also cracked. THe wrist will not crack alone if just the bushing is missing.

Dupage Trading Company should also have the bushing. You will probably have to repair the lug area as well as insert the bushing.

Well guys, you were correct. The darn lug area on the stock is cracked. Good call and even though I'm upset that it's cracked I would have never looked at it. I think the only reason the wood is still together is because the stock lug is holding it in there. My next question is do you have any recommendations for an easy fix or should i replace the darn stock? Thanks again for the heads up on this......Rick H.

I would try to fix it myself. If it doesn't work, you are no worse of than before. I'd try to loosen/remove the stock cross bolts enough to open the crack a bit. get some glue down into the crack (all the way, not just the surface) and re-clamp. If the crack is right down the middle of the recoil lug area, you might be able to hand fit a bow-tie dove tail to strengthen it. No matter what, it won't be legal for CMP competition.

Hi Allen: did I understand that no matter what type of repair I make it would not be legal for competition under CMP rules? Just need clarification before I run out and spend a ton on a new stock as my intention was to use it as such. Thanks again...Rick

It would not be legal if glass bedded. You are most likely looking at glass bedding the stock. I'm not sure if Gorilla Glue will help or not. CMP/Boyd's have stocks. Good luck.

I have seen stocks as you describe break out the entire web behind the lug. If that is the case and it is loose enough, lift it up & put enough epoxy under it to glue it back in place. I should not be necessary to loosen the stock bolts. I'd prefer epoxy over GG. That should reinforce the lug area enough to salvage the stock. Before adding the the bushing, take a drill with a .375" bit & drill diagonally from the tang seat into the wood (aiming at the lower butt plate screw) about .75 ". Take the shavings, mix them with epoxy & fill the hole. As it sets, trim the epoxy to reestablish the gap between the tang & the stock, about .08". The tang should not touch the stock. Also clean out the bushing hole & insert the bushing. That should reinforce the rear guard screw screw area as well. Good luck!

Thank you to everyone that helped me out on this problem. I have to ponder repairing the old cracked stock versus trying to find a replacement. Does anyone know if someone makes a tool for removal of the stock recoil bolt nuts? Rick

The recoil bolts are staked in. They most likley will not budge.

The stock recoil bolts are usually staked in place, removing them will destroy the threads,
unless you have a new set, you should not remove them.

You can remove them by center punching the flat side (opposite the bolt handle) and then drilling thru the head with a bit just slightly bigger than the bolt shank. When the head is free, you can drive the body out from left to right. New cross bolts are readily available.


If you don't have a spanner wrench, you can make yourself such a tool, just get a cheap screwdriver that you can live without and take your dremmel with a cut-off wheel and nibble out a notch in the middle. (this post is an redo/expansion of a previous post on this topic by others...)

Thanks Calif-Steve. I have never seen a stock bolt other than a picture and it looked to me like the "head" of the bolt was knurled to bite into the wood. I was thinking about backing out the stock bolt nuts, but if the bolts are knurled I would assume they would tear out some wood as they were pushed out and quite possible a lot of wood. Thanks, Rick

Thanks to all who offered advise on this problem. Getting the bolts out sounds like a possibility once I find new ones. Rick

Rick,
I am not the rules expert but here is the exact text from the CMP rule book under the heading of "As Issued 1903 Springfield)"

(5) The use of shims made of any material is prohibited. The presence of
fiberglass, epoxy, glue or any other filler is prohibited. Laminated stocks
and stocks made of synthetic materials are prohibited.

Technically, I would say that you would be out of luck by gluing. However, at a local level I would be surprised if anybody gave a hoot about fixing a crack. I think the spirit of the rule ( I think) is to prevent custom bedding resulting in better accuracy.

As for the cross bolts, they are almost always peened or upset at the nut to prevent backing out. I've only replaced one set and you need to plan on putting new ones in because the old ones will be ruined. I drilled out the head side (left) until the head came off, and then pushed them out L to R.

Hello,
Are you still needing this bushing? If so, I have one. If interested please email.
Thanks
Bob
bowhunter1903@aol.com

i made a milsurp stock repair using GORILLA GLUE, it was a pretty good size crack at the rear tang and the gorilla glue worked great, wet area that is to be repaired with a artist brush then force the glue into the damaged area, let set 48hrs , trim with exacto knife. that repair is as strong as the day i did it and i've put some stiff loads thru that eddystone.

Don't know about the tool. I do know the bolt is usually staked the the nut. You can make a nut driver by taking a stout, wide bladed screw driver and grinding/cutting out the center so it clears the bolt. You probably will have to grind off the staking with a Dremel or similar tool so you can remove the nut.