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    Sporterized 1903 with Lyman Sights has issue with zero

    I have a sporterized 1903 with a Lyman 57S 03A3 sight that I inherited. The front sight is Lyman but I don't know the model number. It was shooting high and to the left (3" left, 4" high at 50 yards). When I tried to zero the rifle I was able to zero for windage but was stuck about 2" high at 50 yards because the rear sight would not adjust any lower. I've included pictures of both the rear and front sights. The top of the front sight is about 1-1/8" from the center of the barrel. Is anybody familiar with this rifle and these sights? It looks like the top piece on the front sight could be changed but I wouldn't know what part number it would be or where to get it. I contacted Lyman but they said they no longer make these sights and they were antique and obsolete.

    Front sight left view
    Lyman Front Sight left 4.JPG - Google Drive

    Front sight right view
    Lyman Front Sight right.JPG - Google Drive

    Rear Sight rear view
    Lyman Rear Sight back no bolt.JPG - Google Drive

    Rear Sight front view
    Lyman Rear Sight front 1.JPG - Google Drive

    Rear sight top view
    Lyman Rear Sight top.jpg - Google Drive

    Rear sight side view
    Lyman Rear Sight side.jpg - Google Drive
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    Advisory Panel Chuckindenver's Avatar
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    the rear sight is made for a 1903 and not the A3.. looks like its not straight. however. the A3 rear sight is different to clear the reverse dovetail.
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    Deceased May 2nd, 2020 Cosine26's Avatar
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    I believe that the sight is on crooked, but it is for both the 03 and the 03A3. Look closely at the front view and at the bottom you will see this annotated.
    FWIW

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    I agree that the rear sight appears not to be square to the action (rear sight top picture), so the base may have to be shimmed, but the base is marked Lyman 57S 03A3. Regardless, the rifle shouldn't shoot to zero at 50 yards. The sight is designed for 100 yards plus.

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    Legacy Member butlersrangers's Avatar
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    Your Lyman front-sight base is a standard sporting dovetail. Lots of different makes of front blades will fit into that base.

    You can just go to a well stocked gun-shop and they should be able to sell you a much taller blade, to fit your dovetail.

    BTW - If your Springfield is shooting high at 50 yards, it will likely shoot even higher at 100 yards.
    Last edited by butlersrangers; 10-08-2019 at 02:42 PM.

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    Advisory Panel Chuckindenver's Avatar
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    Attachment 103269

    you can see in the picture, the A3 rear target sight has a step built in to clear the reverse dove tail
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    Deceased May 2nd, 2020 Cosine26's Avatar
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    Chuck
    The sight that you have pictured is not an 03A3 rear sight. It looks very much like a pre-war or early post WWII Lyman 48C for a M1903. I suspect that if you look at the front of the base below the elevation lock screw you wil see the notation "48C". Before the 03A3 Lyman 48 sight was introduced, Lyman made some drastic changes to the configuration of the Lyman 48. I know because I have a 03A3 sight installed and used it quite extensively on a M1903 target rifle. I shall be glad to provide a list of the changes Lyman made if desired,

    The sight originally pictured is a Lyman 57 and it is so marked "03A3" on the front of the base. It looks to me as if the holes were drilled incorrectly (too low) and the sight base sits too low on the receiver. If the sight were to be mounted higher up on the receiver it would not be crooked.
    FWIW
    Last edited by Cosine26; 10-12-2019 at 03:56 PM.

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    Deceased May 2nd, 2020 Cosine26's Avatar
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    Picture of Lyman 48 03A3 sight on a M1903
    Imgur: The magic of the Internet
    Note the Target knobs, the long slide for 1000 yard shooting and the modification so that the stock does not have to b inletted for the base. The base fits over the stock without a cutout. The long slide was $2.00 extra. The sight could also be ordered with "hunter" knobs.
    FWIW
    Last edited by Cosine26; 10-12-2019 at 05:15 PM.

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    Deceased May 2nd, 2020 Cosine26's Avatar
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    I thought that you might like to see the completed rifle. It is on a nickle steel M1903 receiver with a HS Barrel (second barrel), Timney trigger, glass bedded in a "C" stock and long slide Lyman 48 sight.. I have shot it many times in competition out to and including 1000 yards. With 180 grain SMK bullets and a case full of IMR 4350 It will consistently shoot 10 shot MOA groups at 300 yards from the bench or would when I was an active competitor.
    Imgur: The magic of the Internet
    FWIW
    Last edited by Cosine26; 10-12-2019 at 08:36 PM.

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    the picture, was just to show the step. and was a random photo off the net...
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    molinenorski@msn.com
    720-841-1399 during normal bus, hours.

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