De-sportering (maybe)

[Hardcase]

I've got a sporterized Mk I that's been drilled and tapped for a scope (I posted pictures a while back.) Now, I know what that means for collectibility, but I'm not really concerned about the rifle as a collector's item - I'd actually like to shoot it in my gun club's high power and military matches. Obviously, that's a no-go with a scope and they're looking askance at it with the current stock.

So...essentially, what I have to start with is a barreled receiver, I guess. So obviously I need a stock and related accessories. But my big question is about the sights. The front sight has been replaced with a Marbles blade, but it's in the original dovetailed band, so I have a starting point. What about the rear sight? It appears that there are two drilled and tapped holes on the right side of the rear of the action that were used at some point...did it have a peep sight there? Or was that yet another "aftermarket" fiddling? And where do I go to buy a complete rear sight?

Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm not aiming for historical accuracy - just a "legal" shooter...too much has been altered on this gun to get too crazy about correctness, I think.

Information

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[PhillipM]

Your Mark I had a model 1905 folding leaf sight just ahead of the receiver. Lyman model 48 peep sights that were often added to the right rear of the receiver for target and hunting work, and they are a vast improvement! They are not "as issued" so depending on your club's rules they may or may not be legal. A modern version, the Model 57 is available new. http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/s...eiver-peep.php

[Bob S]

"Legal" for what type of competition? For NRA Match Rifle, you can do just about anything you want to it, as long as it's safe. For CMP "as-issued" rifle, it has to be in the military configuration, with no "match" parts. In a very rare instance, someone who is actually in authority at CMP came out with a rules interpretation about 4 years ago regarding drilled and tapped actions that had been remilitarized: as long as the rifle is in original military configuration, the presence of holes for a formerly-mounted scope base and/or receiver sight will not disqualify you from CMP competition. Local rules may very. Some clubs run a "classic" rifle match that allows some period modifications, such as a Lyman 48 on a Springfield. The "modified" rifles do not compete against the "as-issued" rifles.

The holes on the side of the receiver bridge were for a Lyman, Redfield, Armstrong, or other "sporting" or target receiver sight. You can put some plug screws in and call it "good".

For your Mk I, the challenge will be to put an original rear sight base back on the barrel.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[Bob S]

Phillip:

Gee, that picture looks sort of familiar. It is one of many Poor Man's Match Rifles that I built in the 60's. I still own that one. The rear sight is a Redfield 70ST.



The record book indicates that it was last fired in competition in September 1984 at Reading, Massachusetts. I used cast bullets at 200 yards, a good lot of Frankford Arsenal 1937 M1 ball at 300 yards, and Sierra 190's with 45 grains of DCM surplus 4895 for 600 yards.

I do not recommend the Lyman 57, particularly the newer ones with the aluminum body. Steel threads in aluminum blocks wear out too quickly in HP use. Also, there is no slide lock, and the spring in the slide release does not effectively prevent movement of the slide.


Resp'y,
Bob S.

[PhillipM]

I did a custom image search on Google and saw Bob S on the account. Figured it was you!

Thanks for the review of the Model 57, most informative.

[Hardcase]

Thanks for the advice, fellas. I sent an email off to the powers that be at the rod and gun club to see what counts as a "legal" high power rifle. They're sort of the final authority, I guess!

On the off chance that I don't have to get too crazy making changes, is there an alternative to the original sight or the Lyman 57?

This *almost* sounds like I should just keep it the way it is and start sweetening up my wife for a Garand.

[Lancebear]

Hey Hardcase,

Think you gotta' consider cost first. Your rifle has four holes in the receiver and the large slot on the left side. God only knows how many rounds have been through your rifle. You'd have to put the cost or more of a good shooter '03 or A3 to fix what you got and not get squat if you ever wanted to sell it. You oughta' be able to find an old re-arsenaled '03 or A3 at a gunshow or on Gunbroker for between six and eight hundred dollars. Find something with a good bore and the rest on the Inet and post the link to it here. People will tell you if it is a good deal or not.

Actually your best bet is right here. Check out the CSP for sale list. Last time I checked there were two or three nice rifles for sale less than seven hundred bucks. Our guys won't give you a bad deal, they hang here.

Lancebear

[Rick the Librarian]

I was going to say the same thing. With the cost of '03 parts and the amount of work involved, I think this rifle is a poor candidate for restoration. I think, by the time you figure in parts and labor, you would be MUCH farther ahead to save the money and look for a rifle like Lancebear suggested.

[Bill H]

Used Lyman 48s are readily available, and function reliably. There is also a Redfield model which will fit the holes, and is usually found at about half the price of the Lyman 48.

[edlmann]

On the off chance that I don't have to get too crazy making changes, is there an alternative to the original sight or the Lyman 57?

If you can find one, a Redfield 70 or 80 will work.

If you want a bargain solution, the Williams Foolproof or 5D will work, but have the same aluminum construction issues.

The earlier Lyman 57s (before about 1973) had steel bases, and these pop up on eBay from time to time.