M1903 rifle USMC reproduction sight questions

[CW Mock]

Hello all,

I know these questions have been probably asked to death ... but either my search fu is weak, or what I am looking for is just not easy to find.

I'm looking to get a set of USMC style repro sights for my '03. I have been pointed towards a Mr. Bill Bentz, but the contact information for him seems to be contradictory, with an e-mail at comcast, and then one at gmail. Does anyone know if he is still in the business of making the front and rear sights, and the USMC protector as well? If he is, can someone let me know the right address - I sent an e-mail to the gmail one, but have not heard back.

My other questions are related to those sights, and please forgive my ignorance to the '03 rifle technical details as a whole. I have an old 1903A3 parts gun, and it has multiple front sight blades. Did the '03 rifle have those too - and how would I go about finding the right height USMC blade for my 1903? I want the more useful 200 yard battle sight zero and easy to see blade for some of the local shooting competitions I jump into on occasion.

Second, because that front sight blade is wider, is there a need to widen the rear battle sight notch? Not being a gunsmith, I don't have a lot of precision tools, so I would appreciate it if someone could give me an idea of what would need to be done so I can find someone with the tools and have it done. I would think a small/thin file, but don't know if there is a measurement I would be shooting for. I like using the battle sight notch for faster shooting, in particular on moving targets, but a 547 yard zero is a little ... excessive for most of the ranges I am at. 200-250 yards would be perfect.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll try and get some pictures up of my rifle soon ... because well, we all know "this thread is worthless without pics!"

Information

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[dt1950]

dcm450shtr@comcast.net I exchanged emails with Mr. Bentz a few months ago on his reproduction USMC front sight cover, so he is still out there. Regards

[RCS]

Photo shows the USMC front sight, cover and #10 rear sight. The M1903A3 front sight is not the same as the M1903/03A1Attachment 42322

When the USMC rear sight leaf is flat, the range is 200 yards

[CW Mock]

Photo shows the USMC front sight, cover and #10 rear sight. The M1903A3 front sight is not the same as the M1903/03A1Attachment 42322

When the USMC rear sight leaf is flat, the range is 200 yards

For those of you with the USMC sights, did you have to modify the notch for the battle sight to make it more "usable?" One of the guys Who suggested these to me said his notch was too narrow to use it well.

[QCI SPRINGFIELD]

For those of you with the USMC sights, did you have to modify the notch for the battle sight to make it more "usable?" One of the guys Who suggested these to me said his notch was too narrow to use it well.

I am looking for the same info. Seems to me that the issue front sights is pretty tight in the "U" notch. A wider sight might be useless. I wonder if the original USMC mod included a wider battle sight notch, or if they simply didn't use the battle sights?

[CW Mock]

I am looking for the same info. Seems to me that the issue front sights is pretty tight in the "U" notch. A wider sight might be useless. I wonder if the original USMC mod included a wider battle sight notch, or if they simply didn't use the battle sights?

If anything I will find out in a few weeks hopefully. Soon as I get paid I plan on ordering a set for my rifle to try out. Hopefully there will be no need to modify anything. Mr. Bentz stated he was unaware of any change to the battle sight notch as the Marines probably wanted to make the fewest/easiest changes they could.

Worse comes to worse, I will get a spare battle sight and experiment.