+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Early 1903 NRA Sporter or Sporterized 1903 Forgery ??

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Contributing Member Herschel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    02-27-2025 @ 01:03 AM
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    254
    Local Date
    07-01-2025
    Local Time
    03:21 PM
    I collect the NRA sporters and can offer this opinion about the subject rifle. The bolt handle has been altered to clear a scope. If you look on the bridge I believe you will
    find aftermarket drilled and tapped holes, or hole for the rear base of a more modern scope base. If the rifle came from SA with special order scope blocks there would be two
    holes drilled and tapped in the receiver ring and two more holes drilled and tapped in the barrel centered 7.2 inches forward of the rear holes. I believe the high polished finish on the bolt was done after the
    bolt handle had been modified. I believe the bolt to be original to the rifle. The rear sight is a Lyman 48C (has the windage scale in front of the aperture). The correct
    rear sight for an NRA sporter is the 48S. I has a hinged peep that can be turned down in the front of the threaded aperture hole. It also had the windage scale behind the
    aperture. The front sight is a Lyman 17A XNB which was introduced in 1963 for use on the 1903A3 but would also fit the 1903.

    I believe the rifle was modified for a target shooter. I can't see the index marks on the elevation knob well enough to count them. I believe they may be 1/3 minute clicks. That would be
    to permit more precise windage adjustments. The Lyman 48S had 1/2 minute clicks.

    For what it's worth,
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. Thank You to Herschel For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Legacy Member msup13's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Last On
    05-12-2023 @ 02:44 PM
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    7
    Local Date
    07-01-2025
    Local Time
    03:21 PM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by Herschel View Post
    I collect the NRA sporters and can offer this opinion about the subject rifle. The bolt handle has been altered to clear a scope. If you look on the bridge I believe you will
    find aftermarket drilled and tapped holes, or hole for the rear base of a more modern scope base. If the rifle came from SA with special order scope blocks there would be two
    holes drilled and tapped in the receiver ring and two more holes drilled and tapped in the barrel centered 7.2 inches forward of the rear holes. I believe the high polished finish on the bolt was done after the
    bolt handle had been modified. I believe the bolt to be original to the rifle. The rear sight is a Lyman 48C (has the windage scale in front of the aperture). The correct
    rear sight for an NRA sporter is the 48S. I has a hinged peep that can be turned down in the front of the threaded aperture hole. It also had the windage scale behind the
    aperture. The front sight is a Lyman 17A XNB which was introduced in 1963 for use on the 1903A3 but would also fit the 1903.

    I believe the rifle was modified for a target shooter. I can't see the index marks on the elevation knob well enough to count them. I believe they may be 1/3 minute clicks. That would be
    to permit more precise windage adjustments. The Lyman 48S had 1/2 minute clicks.

    For what it's worth,
    Herschel,

    Everything that you said makes sense and matches up with the rifle. The bridge is drilled and tapped, as well, like you said

    The elevation and windage adjustments are both 1/2 minute click, which reading up on the sight was standard for the 48C

    I thank you for the information and your knowledge on the subject.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Sporterized 1903 with Lyman Sights has issue with zero
    By joe03 in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 10-13-2019, 08:37 PM
  2. sporterized 1903 stocked by...
    By rugersworld in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-06-2015, 12:21 AM
  3. 1903 NRA sporter help
    By Guyonabuffalo in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 09-22-2014, 10:00 AM
  4. 1903 a3 sporter
    By fishn861 in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-08-2013, 10:51 PM
  5. Trying to restore a sporterized 1903, need help.
    By awq134 in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-25-2012, 12:24 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts