1903A3 Rear Sight on Enfield No 4 or No 5

[scha]

I am a new member and have a sight mount I would like to share.

I bought a Long Branch No 4 Mk 1* that someone had already converted to the Jungle Carbine configuration. It came with the simple "L" flip type rear sight. I wanted an adjustable rear sight and felt that a Springfield 1903A3 rear sight might work on an Enfield.

I bought a new 1903A3 sight on E-Bay for $30 and then machined a chunk of steel into a sight mount. It seems to work well and requires no modifications to the receiver. I used the stock sight pin mount with the stock spring tab to hold the sight in position and allow it to flip up for bolt removal.

While it took a little time with a milling machine, I am pleased to have a fully adjustable rear sight that can be removed at any time to return the rifle to original configuration. This type of sight mount would work on any Enfield No 4 or No 5.

Steve

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

See what you mean but surely, you'd have been better off and cheaper just putting an adjustable Mk1 leaf backsight onto the rifle. Zero it up and bobs your uncle!

I wouldn't mind betting that those sight graduations won't equate to anywhere near the .303" ball ammo trajectory so it'll all have been an academic exercise. Just my 2c's worth

[heyheyuw]

Wow! That may be academic, but it's still cool as all hell! Doesn't damage the rifle and looks quite nice! He A3 rear sight is very compatible with my eyes... Would make a good brush gun sight for a No5. God Bless tinkerers!

Cheers,
Chris

[browningautorifle]

It is cute Steve, but I should think you could also just put a PH 5C on as well...that's fully adjustable.

[scha]

Range Report - The weather warmed up a little here in Illinois and I went to the range to test my updated sight. Using Prvi 150 grain factory loads my bullets were hitting too high even when the sight was at its lowest position. At 100 yards the bullet impact was about 8 inches above the point of aim. This means I need to make another mount with the 1903A3 sight mounted lower or I need a taller front sight.

With cast loads (185 gr Lee bullet @ 1,600 fps), the sight worked well and I was able to adjust the sight to work.

The rifle is a 1942 Long Branch No 4 that has been converted to jungle carbine configuration. The barrel is two groove and like many others it is rather large. (.317 on the grooves and .304 on the bore)

This is a work in progress. Hope this report helps.

[Col. Colt]

Very Neat! Great "Thinking Outside the Box"! With a height adjustment and the proper loads, I'll bet it will work very well! Thanks for sharing! CC

[Surpmil]

It is cute Steve, but I should think you could also just put a PH 5C on as well...that's fully adjustable.

PH4 would be about right. Easier to adjust, zeroes properly as mentioned above, looks right and rests in the recess provided rather than bobbing up and down against what?

But, harmless experiment and if you had fun, what else matters?

[browningautorifle]

I must admit, the idea has merit...