Hi, I'm rebarreling a 1903, with a slightly modified 1903 a3 barrel, and was wondering if the rear sight collar on the 1903 is soft soldered in place, and removable with a butane torch, or is another approach required?
Thanks
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Hi, I'm rebarreling a 1903, with a slightly modified 1903 a3 barrel, and was wondering if the rear sight collar on the 1903 is soft soldered in place, and removable with a butane torch, or is another approach required?
Thanks
I'm not sure myself, but several members know 1903's well and should answer you shortly.
Pinned and soldered, but, no need to remove it. I use blocks with the detail just forawrd of the rear sight and have never had an issue, the headspace if anything on a new barrel will need a very slight chamber cut to set it correctly, but, very rare-SDH
Thanks, I've managed to get it off by driving out the cross pin, heating it and driving the collar forward that pin was filed to the profile of the collar and I just couldn't find it. Any tips on suggested bedding set up?
the 1903 rear sight base is pressed on and retained with a pin, left to right, and also has a pin at the rear for index, its very tough to remove without destroying it,
its not like the Mausers.
im in the middle of making a tool that will pull it, and re install it.
however.
the 1903 base will not fit on a 1903A3 barrel with modification of the barrel.
i also have a tool that makes installing the base very easy, and keeps you from damaging the base,
The M1903 fixed rear sight base is not soldered, only pinned, but they were a press fit and are usually hard to remove. A M1903A3 barrel has to be turned down to accept a M1903 FRSB.
If installing a new milsurp M1903 barrel, note that the draw line (witness mark) on the barrel is covered by the FRSB but the "shelf" on the base is used the same way to line up with the receiver mark.
JIm
if you look close, the line on the sight base, lines up with the witness mark on the barrel.
line those up and your ready to go, try and avoid using a 1903A3 barrel on a 1903, its just cheesy.
if your going to do it, do it right.
M1903 barrels are hard to come by, while M1903A3 barrels are still around. But since many 03A3 barrels look like they were turned with a dull hatchet, I recommend re-finishing them to match the original 03 barrel.
The 03A3 barrel has its witness mark visible, so I suggest turning it to the right size for the FRSB, then installing the barrel, then the 03 FRSB, then drill the cross pin hole.* If the barrel is new, it will be short chambered, and must be reamed to get the proper headspace.
*Watch that part; you need a very stiff starter drill to begin with.
Jim
you can turn a 700.00 rifle into a 500.00 rifle with an A3 barrel.
03 barrels arent that tough to find. just spend some time looking.
they just look cheesy on a 1903, i wont istall them anymore, by the time you spend 150.00 for an A3 barrel, pay 100.00 to have it turned down to match a rear sight base, spend another 50.00 to have the base installed right.
have the barrel finished to match the receiver, youll have well over 300.00 in a rifle that still has a 1903A3 barrel stuck on the end.
when if you just look, find a 1942 to 44 1903 replacement barrel, made by HS, SA, or Sedgley, for around 200.00 with a sight base already attached, then pay a gunsmith 75.00 to install, headspace, and testfire, your in it less, takes less time, and is a real 1903 barrel.
i have a few WW2 replacement 1903 barrels id sell, and install them as well, and have it done in less then 2 weeks with shipping time...
took me a total of 3 min,s but i found no less the 6 variations of 1903 barrels for sale, from 1914 to 1942 dates, from 75.00 opening bid and up. on GB..
they are pretty easy to find. all you have to do is look.
All done here, I used the 03A3 barrel, turned down to accept the collar and bedded nicely. Would have used an A3 barrel, but here (in Australia) I couldn't get a new one. Shoots beautifully and looks all the part. Cheers
Chuckindenver,
Could you PM about having a 1903 rebarreled? I just joined and I can't send a PM yet. Thanks!
I recommend chuckindenver. He rebarrelled my 03 receiver a few years ago. Great job. Cheap, too. He knows his stuff!
There is a crosspin on the bottom, near the front, which can be hard to see, as it is ground flush before parkerizing over it. There is no solder. There is also a lengthwise pin between the barrel and fixed sight base (collar), driven in before the assembly is put on the receiver. The fixed sight bases have a tendency to crack near this pin when removing the sight base, so care is in order. You also can't beat on the back of the fixed base to remove it, as it will bend easily. After removing the crosspin, I put a sacrificial moveable sight base on the fixed base, and beat on that with a brass drift and hammer to move the fixed base. You will have to turn the back of the 'A3' barrel down at two places to fit the fixed sight base, loosing the witness mark in the process. If you mark the shoulder of the barrel where it would abut the receiver to note the location of the original witness mark, you can make another witness mark at the same location after turning down the shoulder. You won't get the lengthwise pin back in, or succeed in drilling the barrel to match the hole - not to worry, Loctite works just as well. If you get the barrel indexed to the witness mark, you can use the ridge on the left side of the sight base as a witness mark to align that. If you use Loctite, and the alignment doesn't come out right, you can heat the base with a propane torch to soften the Loctie, drive it forward, and try again.
OlManDow
your aware this post is over 2 years old right?
Chuck - I have sent a PM
Thanks
Stoneflint on Gunbroker has '03 mint barrels for sale.
cheesy from a collectors standpoint or can you tell from afar its an 03A3 barrel on a M1903? i have a sportered M-1903 that was not D&T and im putting it back into mil config and i also have a new in wrap barrel that ive been told is a 03A3 barrel its an RA 7-44 groove barrelQuote:
Originally Posted by chuckindenver
Short answer, no. Right thing to do or not I don't know, but mine looked great and shot great.Quote:
Originally Posted by alex124485
what is meant by "turned down"?Quote:
Originally Posted by tbonesmith
Machine off the rear outside of the barrel to accept the rear sight sleeve.Quote:
Originally Posted by alex124485