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good morning I have a uncle with a 1903 springfield 3006 the rear sight (not a a3) keeps l shifting to the left after firing gonna see him today and wanted to try and help him any pointers to look for would be appreciated is there a lock to keep the rear sight from moving I believe its the original sight thanks for any replies will also let him know about this forum he has a collection of old military fire arms bill
Are you speaking of the sleeve shifting or just the leaf?
forgive my ignorance seems like the base there are numbers at the base for windage and the whole base is moving will try to bring gun home with me and post pics
This is a picture of the sight. I took it apart and cleaned it. The threads look to be ok, reassembled it and it still moves. Could it be that the threads are worn and that's why it moves? Looked on the internet for replacement parts and they seem in worse condition than the sights that are on the rifle. Would I be better off just to use Loctite and not adjust for windage?
Don't do that. These other guys will be along shortly I hope and suggest something. The sight looks OK, just moving in the base? Like left and right? This isn't the whole thing rotating around the barrel...just a loose windage issue?Quote:
Originally Posted by bill50
yes that's correct. I can move base a little just by pushing on it left or right kind of like the worm gear may be worn out.. it is 100yrs old. windage screw does get hard to turn at certain points
I put a used better shape windage knob assembly in my Rock Island rifle some years back. That did help my 'sight drift' issues on that rifle. I've learned to set the windage knob just so which keeps the sight wobble limited to one direction only
I was messing with the rear sight on a late Remington 1903 my son just bought. The rear sight on his 03 works like it's supposed too! Rolls left or right smooth and easy...stays where you leave it...you can feel the screw spring taking the slack out of it. His sight nice and un-molested.....my Rock Island used and abused
A guy at a match last week said he used a foil shim, either heavy duty foil or thin aluminum can (he couldn't remember) to take the slack out. I confess I don't know where this is installed but he said it was like magic. He went from drift to a solid sight.
Dave
It isn't easy to tighten up a worn or sloppy '03 rear sight but it can be done if you have a light touch and go slowly.
Let's start with a picture of the components:
http://www.jouster2.com/forums/attac...3&d=1578695797
The repeatability of the windage adjustment depends on a good fit of the stud (a) in the hole (A), a good sliding fit between the rear lip (b) and the rear radius (B), full engagement of the windage worm threads (c) with the windage gear sector (C), and the tension of the worm spring (d).
The objective in tuning the sight is to eliminate play and binding. First step is to tighten up the stud/hole fit. If you have a machine shop you can fit a bushing after opening up the hole with an end mill, perfectly indexed. If not, peening the top of the stud until it binds, then lapping with fine compound (600 grit) will work for a while. Any play here is multiplied nearly four times at the leaf end of the movable base and, like a bad wheel bearing, no amount of tweaking the other parts will fix it.
Once the stud is a good fit in the hole, put the sight together without the worm screw assembly and tighten up the lip-radius fit (b-B) by tapping the lip in toward the radius with a soft brass or copper hammer at x-x. Test for binding by swiveling the movable base from side to side between taps. When it starts to bind, apply some compound and lap it smooth. Repeat the tapping and lapping until there is full contact throughout the normal range of movement, no slop and no binding. If needed, do the same for the front lip (e) which, when properly fitted, acts as a spring to exert a gentle down-pressure on the movable base and prevent it from rocking.
Clean off the abrasive, stone any burrs on the opposing conical surfaces of the worm assembly and its seat, make sure the worm spring (d) is not weak or collapsed (if it is, get a new worm assembly - they're cheap). Lube everything that makes contact with moly or graphite grease. Assemble the sight and center it.
Try to wiggle the movable assembly left and right with very little force to observe any slop. The last few thousandths of side play are sometimes impossible to remove without a new worm. Don't worry about them. If there is more than that, try peening the stud again.
Now push the movable base hard to the right against the tension of the worm spring. It should return itself to the original position without binding. If not, take it apart and lap some more. Be sure to clean out all the lapping compound.
Any tapping and peening has to be done very gently with a light, smooth hammer. The steel of the sight components is soft and deforms easily. Most components except the fixed base are widely available. If your '03 is in completely original condition, don't peen the stud - use the bushing in the hole on a spare movable assembly and keep the original assembly safe and unaltered.
thanks for all the replies will look into getting new worm assembly
Parashooter - what a Great Job of explaining a subject that makes many give up before they start! Well done and thank you! CC