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    Legacy Member JRay8's Avatar
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    1903 front sight help

    Hello everyone, first time poster here.
    I need some help with my 1903 Springfield. My local range is only 100 yards so the battle sight doesn't quite work for me. I am shooting 14" high at 100 yards.
    I have been scouring the internet for a taller front sight blade but cannot find one.
    Does anyone have a lead on taller sights or another solution?
    thank you for the help.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    Sprinfield 1903 rear sight leaf and notch and peep sight

    You have to lift-up the leaf sight and at the bottom set, you have either a notch or a peep sight good for 100 ydsAttachment 112106

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    If you can find USMC sights (#10 rear peep) with the higher, thicker front sight, your rifle should be right on
    at 100 yards without lifting the leaf sight

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    Legacy Member JRay8's Avatar
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    I just assumed if you flip up the sight you'd be shooting higher. Thanks guys, I need to go to the range.

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    Legacy Member sloporsche's Avatar
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    Those soldiers back in 1903 must have had super-man eye sight to use that rear sight when the the sight is laying flat.....the thin front sight well it suks too . I am tempted to take a jewelers file and open up what they call a rear notch and make it a proper square [larger] notch .

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sloporsche View Post
    Those soldiers back in 1903
    Not so far back...I've had my share of those rifles in past and shot them to good effect as well, I had far better eyes when I was 20 or 30 than now of course... Kragicon or LL or Lee Metford sights were fine but no problem. Now however, different story.

    By the way, altering your own rifle to your own needs...is up to you. You certainly can you know...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JRay8 View Post
    I just assumed if you flip up the sight you'd be shooting higher. Thanks guys, I need to go to the range.
    With the sight flipped up, you've got a nice little peep sight and elevation graduations down to 100 yards.



    Back when these rifles were used in the National Matches, they used to use handy micrometers like this one to get precise elevation adjustments. As posted above, its hard to imagine it now, but riflemen used to get plenty of accuracy from these sights shooting targets at 1000 yards.


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    Legacy Member sloporsche's Avatar
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    well i bit the bullet [pun] . I took a 5/16 triangle single cut and gave it 6 light passes one way and 6 the other way,what this did was to widen the rear sight notch and slightly deepen [sight folded down] . The change was very good ,i then painted the front sight blade flat white this made it "more very good" i can now quickly pick up the rifle and get the sights on target something that i could not do before . I am pleased with what i did, this rifle looks like it has seen every battlefield since it was made........and on the losing side ....so i did not ruin a priceless piece of history . Although not the best pick of an arm it is part of a triad of home defense

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Take it out and warm it up and let us know how the changes to the rear sight affect things...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member sloporsche's Avatar
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    can do

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