Correct scope for the 03a4 an safety functioning issues

[sonnyboy]

I am trying to put together an 03a4 with a lyman scope an can see that the safety will not completely turn from right side of receiver to left side without being blocked by scope. Did they cut down the safety lever(smaller) to pass under the scope, or did they just raise the safety up to scope body an partially disengage the bolt???..........sonny

Information

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[Neal Myers]

Just raising the safety up to the scope body is sufficient to engage the safety. Of course, that is with the scopes issued by the military. It should work with the Alaskan series, but, any other Lyman scope, you are on your own.

Unless you use your rifle for hunting or combat, it's not likely you will ever feel the need to engage the safety.

Neal

[JGaynor]

There were two scopes initially approved for the M1903A4, the Lyman Alaskan (later M73) and the Weaver 330C (later M73B1). Certain design features of the A4 leads on to believe that of the two scopes the Alaskan was probably the preferred set of optics. Unfortunately fate intervened and no M73 scopes would be delivered before A4 production at Remington terminated in mid 44.

When the Alaskan is mounted with the W&E turrets ahead of the front ring there is clearance to move the safety lever to the full on position.
Secondly, the rear of the Redfield Jr Scope scope base is beveled to provide clearance for the Alaskan's eypiece. The bevel serves no purpose when a Weaver scope is mounted.
Finally, both Weaver 330C and Alaskan were fairly long eye relief scopes, on the order of 3 to 5 inches. The location of the Weaver W&E adjustment plate prevented taking full advantage of the eye relief since the adjustment plate interfered with the back of the rear scope ring. In the case of the Lyman the scope could be mounted somewhat further forward providing better eye relief.

In the manual for the A4 (see the sticky section at the beginning of the springfield forum) there is a notation that when the Weaver 330C (M73B1) scope is used the safety should just be pushed up against the side of the tube. The army acknowledged that was as good as it was going to get.

Regards,
Jim

[sonnyboy]

wow, thanks for the help with this. I would like to use my 03a4 for deer hunting an would not want my hunting buddies to view my gun as unsafe. I have a company trying to gather parts for the final rebuild of my soon to be sniper 03a4, an was asked if I wanted to cut down the safety lever to *** under the scope completely. I said that I never saw this, an was told that they did this on original rifles!?!?!?!.....geez....It was hard enough to roll the safety lever up an over to engage or disengage the rifle,but a small cut down tap would be a real pain in the keester. Was there any evidence of cut down saety tabs for clearance????.....sonny

[JGaynor]

Was there any evidence of cut down saety tabs for clearance????.....sonny

Not on military rifles. But when they started finding their way into the civilian gun smithing trade all sorts of modifications were made. There were several company's that manufactured a low scope safety for the '03/'03A3. Suggest you search Brownells or Midway for starters. If those don't pan out try a want to buy or trade ad in some of these forums or haunt the parts guys at your gunshows. Good luck.

Regards,
Jim