1903A3 barrel stamp alignment.

[Mjac]

LGS online picture. I will see the rifle tomorrow
Notice the barrel stamp is 25~30 degrees from top dead center. Is this typical or something to be concerned about? A negotiation point?

[ssgross]

remove the barreled action from the stock and check the witness marks on the barrel+receiver. If they are off, then something fishy is going on. But then that would mean the keyway for the front sight was recut tool. Barrel thread pitch is 20 TPI, so a 25 degree turn would move 0.0144. Why would a bubba loosen a barrel a bit and recut the slot for the front sight? I dunno. He's done dumber things.

Of course the least likely reason should always be stated first The simplest explanation would be the guy at Remington was in a hurry and didn't properly align the barrel in his jig when stamping.
Check the witness marks. If they are aligned, go shooting and enjoy yourself.

[John Beard]

I do not discount the comments of ssgross. However, I have a barrel in my collection with the markings rotated 90 degrees from vertical. The worker misaligned the barrel in the engraver. So legitimate misaligned markings exist, but that pictured one may or may not be one of them.

J.B.

[Chuckindenver]

iv seen some replacement barrels that were off, most were marked reject or other marking , most likely this was done by a gunsmith, by the looks of the pin, through the sight, and the extra long screw added at the stacking swivel band, thats also on backawrds, id bet my money on other issues,. headspace would be the first thing id check before shooting the rifle, look for signs of recovered drill rifle, iv seen guys turn the face too much, trying to square that up.

[oldfoneguy]

most likely this was done by a gunsmith, by the looks of the pin, through the sight, and the extra long screw added at the stacking swivel band, thats also on backawrds, id bet my money on other issues,. headspace would be the first thing id check before shooting the rifle, look for signs of recovered drill rifle, iv seen guys turn the face too much, trying to square that up.

Chuck you made me look closer after you mentioned that stacking swivel screw that I never looked at. I'm not sure and it may be my eyes but is that a speed nut that the hardware store screw is secured with? You mentioned a gunsmith, if this is the work of a smith he should loose his license for this junk and we haven't seen the rest of the rifle. Look at how hammed up the sight and the pin is, looks like a blind man had at it. Not the work of a professional. I have a barrel wrench and action vise, that doesn't make me a professional gunsmith.

Definitely pull the barrelled action and check that witness mark. My guess is it's 15° to 20° off. I'd really like to see what's going on under the sight base. Was the new key slot cut with a dremel tool I wonder?

[Chuckindenver]

honestly, if this were a rifle, that i personally was looking to buy, id keep on walking. too many other good examples to be had, that can be shot and enjoyed safely. this aint one of them.

muzzle from the stock tip should be 3 1/4 inches or just a RCH under, id bet, its 3 inches on the money, one turn, is 1/4 inch

[Mjac]

For numerous reasons, many of which were expressed here, I did not take a short trip to look at this rifle. Thanks all for the comments. The search continues.