1903A1 and USMC Sniper Rifle Woodwork

[Sniper1944]

I've the opertunity to buy a C type stock for my 1903. The seller has pictured a stock set for an A3 while stating that it comes with an 03 top hand guard instead of the A3 hand guard.

Is the main stock sections interchangeable between an 03, A1 and A3, the only difference being the top hand guard?



Also, does anyone have dimensions of the milled recess and position of the hole that are cut into the A1 hand guard for USMC Unertl sniper rifles?






Thanks,

Paul.

Information

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[2aimtrue]

The 03 and A3 stocks are not the same, the main difference being the inletting for the rear sight base on the 03.

[Chuckindenver]

all 1903 stocks are inletted for the rear sight base, the 1903A3 stocks were mill cut for the rear handguard ring.

[Sniper1944]

So does that mean an 03 receiver and barrel will fit into an A3 stock with the appropriate top hand guard, but an A3 reciever and barrel will not fit into an 03 stock due to no mill cut for the hand guard ring?





Paul.

[Chuckindenver]

your are correct...they do fit, but too tight, and usually crack as soon as they are shot, unless you cut the groove for the handguard ring.

[JerryB08]

If your worried where to put the Unertl front mount it's 7.2 inches from the center of your back mount. Measure from the center of the adjustment screws. If you don't have that exact gap when you are shooting the rifle and making adjustments they won't be by correct increments. Good luck. Unless your going to compete (where they do not allow it) I would leave the recoil spring on, But that's simply a matter of opinion. I believe it was designed with one for an obvious reason. The USMC had an unlimited budget. They weren't concerned about having to replace the scope. As far as the hand guard I would try and locate the correct one. Or as suggested cut it too fit the ring.

[emmagee1917]

When the rifle is fired , the rifle recoils back but inertia causes the scope to remain in place . This is what causes the scope to be forward. The spring does not aid in this and instead is of use only in pulling it back into place. Shooting with or without it causes no extra wear or harm to the scope . Shooting without it solves the sand problem , the danger of having the scope jump back into your face , clearance in working the bolt between shots , and working the safety lever.
Chris

[JerryB08]

I like it. On a K98 in 8MM service configuration it puts it right back into battery with milsurp rounds. You make good points however, especially working the bolt and the potential problems with sand. especially considering where it was used. I had assumed that it would bang off the front mount.

[2aimtrue]

Sorry, my mistake. Learning all the time. You can sort of see the difference here:
Sales - Stock Sets

[Mike D]

So does that mean an 03 receiver and barrel will fit into an A3 stock with the appropriate top hand guard, but an A3 reciever and barrel will not fit into an 03 stock due to no mill cut for the hand guard ring?








Paul.

The recoil lug on an A3 receiver is too large to fit in almost all '03 (pre-A3)stocks. It wasn't until 1942 that stocks were inletted for the larger recoil lugs of latter Rem '03 and all of A3 production. Mike