Rubber washers on the barrel of a 03A3 RIA rebuild?

Hello
I am cleaning up a cmp certified RA 1903a3 rifle with barrel date 8-43 that was rebuilt at RIA and noticed there are 3 rubber washers on the barrel after it was disassembled
I didn't notice were they where placed but I assume under the upper band and possibly under the clips on the correct A3 handguard

Ive never seen these before
Does anyone have feedback on these?
Maybe part of the rebuild process at Rock Island?
Accurizing perhaps?

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Originally Posted by Freestateguy

Accurizing perhaps?

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I think this is the case. I have not seen a 1903 set up like this, but this and similar practice is common enough in an attempt to dampen barrel vibrations. For example, I have a No.4 Mk2 that was set up as a target rifle. A rectangular "pad" was placed in the forend midway. It felt almost like plumbers putty to the touch, but harder, and was molded to engage the barrel. Many have also played with notecards under the muzzle of 1903's to tune the perfect upward pressure from the forend. Depending on how thick the orings were, you can check the places where they would engage the wood of the forend to get an idea. Note to the trolls...mentioning such things does not mean I condone the practice or think it's necessary :)...but if it works in a tired old rifle to keep it shooting in its original, worn out wood...who can argue?

Thanks ssgross
Good insight and it makes sense
I plan on looking for the wear mark`s upon reassembly
T

Would love to see some pics.

never seen that before

Hi ssgross,
I looked at my documentation and realized I bought this CMP rifle from a guy that used it for match shooting so I think these O Rings likely were installed by him. Plus, they are in good shape to be factory installed back in the day. Notice also this guy added some "glue" to the rear sight to lock them in.

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Originally Posted by Freestateguy

added some "glue" to the rear sight to lock them in.

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in the pic it looks like dried grease. your fingernail can tell the difference. I've never heard of using o-rings to dampen a barrel, but hey if it works better than a notecard or other shim...whatever.
Last guy likely put in a lot of range time to figure out what position he liked those rings in. I don't think they that they would make any difference re vibrations unless they also contacted wood somewhere, play around with sliding them. Maybe they left an indentation in the wood, or rubbed a spot. You'll never know how or why, but it sure is fun to speculate :)
Check the pins on the front sight base and blade to see if the finish is worn off its head from removing the sight or blade to slip the rings off. If not, then the barrel was removed or replaced to add the rings. Look up your serial date range and match to the barrel to get an idea whether or not the barrel is original to the rifle.
https://www.remingtonsociety.org/190...rial-no-table/

Those 3 O Rings are quite elastic and can easily stretch enough to go over the receiver. I wish I had paid more attention to their location when I took it apart - I wasn't expecting to see them. One was pretty stretched. I'm thinking under the Upper Band and Hand guard Clip-
I'll likely just cut them off-

BTW the receiver serial dates to 5 -43 - Barrel date is 8-43 so it looks to be original
Thanks for your input- Have a good Thanksgiving

Maybe to eliminate a handguard rattle? Look too small to do much on a ‘03 bbl’s harmonics.

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Originally Posted by baltimoreed

Maybe to eliminate a handguard rattle?

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unless the handgaurd/forend has been altered to where it is too small at the bands, tightening the bands would keep it from rattling.
In my experience there is typically very little room under the barrel of a properly fit 1903 stock. Except for the muzzle bed you can just slide a notecard under it. 2 notecards will bind. A rubber ring therefore should make firm contact between barrel and forend, and such contact certainly would affect vibrations.
Only one way to find out if it works...shoot the rifle without, and then with the rings in different positions. I would guess the rings were placed around the muzzle end as a cheap and easy fix for creating upward pressure from the forend if it were lacking. there should be plenty of room above the barrel so the ring doesn't contact the top half of the upper band. There should be a noticeable gap there.