1903A3 Shooting Left... Way Left.

[Calif-Steve]

I had a very nice 4 groove 03A3 from the CMP. I would shoot 2 feet left at 200 yards. Had several guys look at it and we thought the barrel was slightly bent. I took it to the Western Games in Phoenix, Az and the CMP armourer decided it was bent. CMP took it to Anniston and rebarreled it with a 2 groove barrel. You may well have the same problem.

[browningautorifle]

I had an M1 rifle from Danish returns that was as new, found out why. It shot to the right so I thought it was indexing...but no matter what it remained right. I finally made a straightness gauge on the lathe and checked, it was bent where it's thickest, right in under the lower handguard. It couldn't have happened anywhere except in the heat treating oven when they droop and was missed during the straightening phase. I had to use a hydraulic press to straighten it. Then I changed it for a .308 barrel and sold it. Gun couldn't be zeroed and no one looked into why, just take it off the line...

[Daan Kemp]

Barrel straightening used to be an expert's job, checked at the factory before adding the action. I believe it was part of the manufacturing process for LE rifles too. Small bit of trial and error with the right press might just get the left shooting to be centre shooting.

Works for revolvers too.

[browningautorifle]

Barrel straightening used to be an expert's job

Still isn't a job for the unimaginative...it's hard and I need a straightness gauge. Not eyeball like the old hands did it. The M1 barrel was bent where it couldn't be moved without hydraulics. I don't have the straightening tool you see in the SA vids...the offset and wheel.

[CINDERS]

The very old days when they straightened by eye & fixed it with a hammer strike what magnificent tradesmen they were "Spot the woof" (bend) pop it down quilt (hit) it with a hammer on the spot then recheck the woof...........

[browningautorifle]

A dead blow hammer...yes, I'm aware of that one too. I have to work slower.

[Jaxson50]

Have you taken it to a good gunsmith?
I am just running an idea by here, before replacing the barrel I would have the crown of the muzzle checked, it may just need a simple recrowning of the muzzle,
It has all the symptoms of a damaged muzzle crown.

[browningautorifle]

It has all the symptoms of a damaged muzzle crown.

And that will do it too, for sure.

[Chuckindenver]

out of index, muzzle damage, bent barrel, rear sight not installed correctly, bent front sight.
stock pressure.

[Patrick Chadwick]

out of index, muzzle damage, bent barrel, rear sight not installed correctly, bent front sight.
stock pressure.

It could be a real showpiece item - a gun that has everything wrong!

But seriously tj, by now you should have investigated a couple of the possible causes that have been mentioned on this thread. Any results?