How does one convert an A3 to A4 ????

I did a search and couldn't find what I need. Sorry if asked before.
Am thinking about converting my 1903A3 to an A4 and do not know the process. Was hoping there is a checklist, or set of instructions, that detail all that is needed to complete the process. Am thinking there should be a step-by-step somewhere on the web.

What I have on hand is:
1903A3 SN 4,133,xxx
Weaver model 330 scope
Redfield JR S-special scope mount base 511141
3/4" split JR/SR scope mount rings, std rear/front, low height

I have no knowledge of what is involved. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

you can never convert it to an A4.
you can spend a bunch of money making a 700.00 rifle into a 300.00 rifle.

If you want a faux A4, most will suggest finding an action already drilled or a drill rifle receiver.

Chuck and Mike are right. However if you really want a faux A4 it is a interesting project. Its taken me years to gather the pieces for one here in New Zealand but I finally did it. I wouldent drill the receiver on a nice A3 unless its already been devalued already and unless you are going to make a military 'clone' ie with a M73B1 scope etc. it will never be worth that much. See if you can find just a reciever or a barreled action, rebarrel it if neccesary, new barrels arent hard to get.
The bolt is the hardest bit to get right, if you can spent the money on a original bolt, I wish I did. Or, make the cutout in the stock and have it look nice, Then find a good 'civilian made' bolt that fits the cut out, my one does not quite fit the cut out that I made since the bend in the bold is not quite enough and the bolt does not close, it will have to be re-bent a little. If I were to make a cutout to fit the bolt i'd have to cut halfway down the side of the stock.
Do you have top split rings redfield rings? they are the correct ones for a weaver 330 scope. A C-stock or a Scant stock is the correct stock to have.

Have fun!

Roy,
I appreciate all your good info. For some reason I thought all it took was to replace the bolt, stock, knock out the rear sight and install the scope mount, and voila, .....in business. I'm now reading 'drill the receiver'. I don't know what all that is about. (Much to learn). As for the bolt, if I procede, I think I best purchase the correct one. I don't need any more headaches.
Yes, I do have the redfield 3/4 split rings, and although not the 'totally correct' scope, I do have the 330 which will give it the 'look'.
Again, thanks, and any other advice would be most helpful.
Regards
Reed

how you gonna mount that base without holes?? 2 screws need 2 holes to hold it on...

Please, take at least a 03A3 system and not a M1903 which would be completely wrong for a 03A4 conversion.

right now im in the middle of such a travisty...
have a guy that contacted me through ebay on my replica sniper bolt ad, and asked if i can repair a real bolt that the handle came off...i said no way..something else is up.
told me on the phone that he has a real 1903A4 just like the one he had in Nam..ok...well, if thats the case, why would the bolt handle come off in your hand..
well....come to find out, he doesnt have a real A4, doesnt have a real A4 bolt...heck it aint even a 1903A3...its a 1903 that was sporterized poorly, and had a modified 1917 barrel installed, and now it wont work right...tell me this is safe??no...
then it turns into..i had a 1903A1 sniper, with a target scope ect...and i want to mount a 20 power Unertle on it with that redfield base....so i ask...ok, how you gonna do that?
just mount it on the rings.... no... no your not.

Well, having already admitting my lack of knowledge on this subject, I thought the base might just slip in to the slot where the rear sight was removed:madsmile: Got a lot to learn.

---------- Post added at 09:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

right now im in the middle of such a travisty...
have a guy that contacted me through ebay on my replica sniper bolt ad, and asked if i can repair a real bolt that the handle came off...i said no way..something else is up.
told me on the phone that he has a real 1903A4 just like the one he had in Nam..ok...well, if thats the case, why would the bolt handle come off in your hand..
well....come to find out, he doesnt have a real A4, doesnt have a real A4 bolt...heck it aint even a 1903A3...its a 1903 that was sporterized poorly, and had a modified 1917 barrel installed, and now it wont work right...tell me this is safe??no...
then it turns into..i had a 1903A1 sniper, with a target scope ect...and i want to mount a 20 power Unertle on it with that redfield base....so i ask...ok, how you gonna do that?
just mount it on the rings.... no... no your not.

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What a story......LMAO. Hope the guy doesn't blow himself up

Attachment 31360

A4 receiver showing holes for mounting the scope base.

Although A4 rifles were marked 03-A3 they were not built from finished A3 rifles. A quantity of unhardened A3 receivers was diverted from the A3 contract for assembly into A4's. After the receivers were serial numbered and marked the rest of the A4 assembly was completed on a separate production line at the Remington plant.

Regards,

Jim

Speaking of target scopes in fixed mounts.....
Attachment 31361

From SPR..notice the scope is attached with Redfield rings. The micrometer mounts are also installed (conveniently backward for the southpaw sniper). Evidently he slept in on training day since earlier in th movie when "he gives it two clicks for elevation" he does so by twisting the front lens cell (parallax adjustment) :yikes:

This kind of scope needs to slide when the rifle recoils. In a fixed mount the scope probably wouldn't last long. No problem shooting blanks but wheres the fun in that?:D

Regards,
Jim

i was thinking about that movie while talking to the guy on the phone, imagine they had to remove the dovetail on the scope were the scope slide in the mounts to make that work..notice that rifle has no stripper clip slot?? one of those cast made rifles....good thing he was using blanks...
i took the time to email him some pics and info of US sniping rifles during WW2.. after reading and learning the facts...he wants to just repair the rifle with a new barrel, and then start over with something in military trrim..

joking asside.
to build a replica A4 sniper for CMP match use.
other then a basic 1903A3 rifle.. you need a C or scant grip stock. older Redfield base, choice of scope with rings. quality bolt, modifiy the stock to clear said bolt. drill and tap, install base.
sounds real easy and quick doesnt it.... its not. takes me 3 to 6 weeks to build one from an action, that shoots well. and looks as good.

I have some drill rifle receivers that have new USGI barrels installed and headspaced. You get the complete bolt assy. but the handle is not modified. Price breakdown as follows; Receiver 70.00, Bolt assy. 50.00, Barrel 180.00, Headspace labor 50.00 = 350.00 + 15.00 shipping
Of course you can save money by providing your own barrel and bolt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glassmountains

I have some drill rifle receivers that have new USGI barrels installed and headspaced. You get the complete bolt assy. but the handle is not modified. Price breakdown as follows; Receiver 70.00, Bolt assy. 50.00, Barrel 180.00, Headspace labor 50.00 = 350.00 + 15.00 shipping
Of course you can save money by providing your own barrel and bolt.

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Glassmountains,
I'm tied up most of the day, let me get with you later on this. Sounds promising. Thanks

try humping your stuff on the want to sell area, rather then in discussion forums...if you take a minute and go over the rules of this and other forums it will save you the hassle.
its in poor taste to post your prices and rates in these forums. i noticed that all but one of your posts is to try and sell something in a forum.
thats not what these forums are for.

An alternative to the drill and tap is to buy an S&K 03A3 scope mount. Not the best solution, but it works. The scope mount has a ring that slips over the front of the receiver and an integral wedge that tightens the back of the mount to place where the rear sight attaches. They are not listed on the S&K web site, so I don't know if they are still being made. I have one, but it is not for sale.

Thanks Rbruce,
It may take me a while, but if I do this, I think I'll try to stay with the redfield mount.
One ? I have, is the redfield mount centered on top of the receiver? Was wondering about the effect of ejecting spent casings.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by colreed

Thanks Rbruce,
It may take me a while, but if I do this, I think I'll try to stay with the redfield mount.

One ? I have, is the redfield mount centered on top of the receiver? Was wondering about the effect of ejecting spent casings.

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The Redfleld mount is essential if you are building with an eye to competing in the CMP Vintage Sniper Matches.
No problem with fired cases clearing the scope base or scope.

Regards,
Jim

Drilling those holes has to be difficult; the mount is close, but not an exact fit for the rifle. That's why Remington had to use shims under the front of the mount. I'm guessing that they fabricated a jig, once they figured out where they wanted the holes drilled.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1903A4_h-1.jpg

the holes were drilled before heat treatment, tapped afterward,
the shims were mostly used for the 330 scope, as it didnt have enough adjustment, iv yet to have to use shims with a Lyman or modern scope..
i can tell you that even with a forester jig set up, the drill will walk a tad..and all of the new made Redfield and the Gibbs bases need to be bent, ground or adusted in some way to sit right.
i havent had any issues mounting a Denver made Redfield base.
the qualty of the China made Redfields has gotten better, and ill mount them now, but wont mont the Gibbs made bases.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JGaynor

The Redfleld mount is essential if you are building with an eye to competing in the CMP Vintage Sniper Matches.
No problem with fired cases clearing the scope base or scope.

Regards,
Jim

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I thought the rules only required an appropriate military rifle with a "vintage scope". I was hoping to put my 03 sporter with period-correct Austrian scope mounted on it in military dress and shoot the VS matches if it is accurate enough.

Wonder if I can get in with this;

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rlane005-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2aimtrue

I thought the rules only required an appropriate military rifle with a "vintage scope". I was hoping to put my 03 sporter with period-correct Austrian scope mounted on it in military dress and shoot the VS matches if it is accurate enough.

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Nope! The rules (as of Spring 2011) are published here:

http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf

Be sure to watch for changes for this year. And if you can make a compelling argument you can apply for an exception.

Regards,
Jim

i think they have updated the scope list since that book was published.. unless they changed it again...also..id bet that they outlaw recovered drill rifles in the future..
the Weaver K3 was legal last time i looked..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

i think they have updated the scope list since that book was published.. unless they changed it again...also..id bet that they outlaw recovered drill rifles in the future..
the Weaver K3 was legal last time i looked..

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Chuck, the Weaver K3 was in a draft version of the rules about a year ago as an acceptable scope for the A4. When the final rules were published it was deleted - to a chorus of howls, weeping and moans and groans from people who had already bought them. Part of the reason for the deletion was allegedly that the K3 was not introduced until after the magic cutoff date (1955?). However, if you look at the british list the K3 is Ok for use on an Enfield !!:madsmile:

I doubt they will trash the recycled drill rifle A4 reproductions. CMP more or less blessed the Gibbs models and now two or three other companies have jumped on the band wagon.

Regards,
Jim

i hope your right, but...in my crystal ball, i see....a case head failure on a recovered drill rifle, that we all know really has nothing to do with it being a drill rifle.. and someone complaining of safety...and that will be that...i hope im wrong..but history says other wise.

Maybe I'll try for an exception as a German Gewehr 249a copy.
Incidentally, the list of allowed scopes for German snipers is very limited. Besides the Zeiss models listed there is also the ZF41. They also used the Ajack 4x, Hensoldt 4x, Kahles 4x and any others they could get their hands on. Some were donated by civilians and probably mounted by Jewish smiths at concentration camps in Austria and elsewhere.
Finally got my 03 fitted to the CMP C stock today. Looks great. Will post photos, soon.
I also found someone to repair my Kahles H4x60 and should have it back by the end of next week. Vaughn Everlast was even able to get replacement parts from Europe (I had a badly chipped lens among other problems). As some may recall, Don Miller was unable to get the scope apart but Vaughn got'er done. I'll report on the results when I get the scope.
What is a 1941A1 Springfield?

Bump to top for edit above.

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Originally Posted by 2aimtrue

What is a 1941A1 Springfield?

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It is an error. In all the USMC official correspondence on this rifle it is refered to as: "Rifle,(snipers's), Cal. 30, M1903A1, with Telescope, Sighting, Unertl 8x". Originally USMC Officers Van Orden and Lloyd had proposed the use of the Winchester Model 70.and the Unertl 8x Scope. In Clark Campbell's 2003 edition he cites two USMC Gunnery Sgt.s as remembering the "MC M1941" designation as applying to the Winchester/Unertl combination. In the final analysis the Winchester's were not procured and the Corps fitted Unertl scopes to USMC Match and team '03 rifles which it had on hand. Part of the conversion specification stipuated that "C stocks were to be used if available". Most the examples seen to day in fact have "C" stocks but there are combat photographs of USMC snipers using a grasping groove straight stock. Whether these were issued this way or replaced in theatre is anybody's guess.

So summing up the use of the moniker "M1941" has, in recent years, (i.e. advent of the internet) received some widespread, but probably erroneous, currency in describing this rifle.

"M1941A1" appears only in the vintage sniper rules and (hopefully) is just a goof that will be corrected when the rules are revised.


PS I agree with your comments on the German snipers. The selection of scopes is drawn way too narrowly. As far as the Gew. 98 is concerned I don't believe any of the scopes shown as "issue" were in fact actually used with that rifle. The K98k is better but only a little bit.

Regards,
Jim :wave: