Stupid 1903 Questions

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Ok this ones gonna have a few questions in it.


I am doing a partial rebuild of a very sentimental RIA Model 1903 ( not an 03A3 or A4 ) rifle, keeping as much of the GI parts as possible. I am plan to mount a scope on it, and Im not quite sure how to proceed. I have some Weaver ( GI I think ) 1 inch scope rings, are they supposed to be mounted directly ( after tapping ) to the rifle? Ive asked around about scopes also, and there is some conflict on which scope would be historically correct; Weaver 330 or Lyman Alaskan? If i cant get my hands on either of those old guys, anyone know a similar-looking scope? What do you guys think about pivot base scope rings, and the effects on scope zero? Do all A4 barrels not have a front sight assy? Will an A4 barrel fit on my 03? WHY IS THIS RIFLE SO OLD?

Now im expecting lots of answers and varied opinions on these, but I need to get crackin'..

Best place to purcahse a Newly cut rifle stock?
Best place for gun parts?
Anyone have any products from Turner Saddlery?

Thanks
 
Has the rifle already been Bubbaed?
You will not get much help cutting up an unaltered '03.

Are you trying to make up a fake '03-A4 sniper rifle? I doubt anybody at all knowledgeable would be fooled by an RIA made up to look like an A4, but offering it as such would be fraud.

But, assuming you are starting with an already altered rifle, and that your motives are pure...

The Army did not use Weaver bases, they were all Redfields. Pivot mounts of any sort would be unauthentic.

It is not just a matter of screwing scope bases down to the action, the bolt handle must be altered to clear.

Boyds makes military style stocks and there are some originals around, mostly scant pistol grip stocks which are correct for WWII. Numrich probably has some parts left. Turner Saddlery slings are kind of the industry standard.

All WWII A4s had Weaver 330 scopes, later some were set up with Lyman Alaskans and the military contract scopes. Leupold made some repro Alaskans a few years ago, but you should be able to find a real one in Gun List or online.

An A4 barrel will fit an '03 receiver, the threads are the same, subject to headspacing. No A4 barrel has a front sight although it has the cuts for the base.
 
Intentions

The only thin butchered on this rifle was the stock, which was apparently an early C-Type. It was sporterized down to a short stock, which to me, is just not attractive for this rifle.( Damn! )

Am I making a fake A4? Yes and No. No for me, and Yes to everyone who asks me.

It will be a shooter, just a pretty one that I can be proud of. Hooah Hooah fired up, all that good ****. Go army.

The rifle itself was my grandfathers, and I dont plan on selling or giving it away. I would just like to mount a scope, and do some hunting with it (Boar). Local gunsmith gave it the okay, the serial number is fairly low. I asked about the A4 barrel because of the way my 03 barrel ( RA 8-44 ) front sight post gets in the way, which appears to be non-removeable, aside from hammering it off.

Ok, redfield mounts. Got it.
The reason for me asking about the pivot mounts is purely for the ease of reloading, as I plan not to have iron sights on the rifle. Speaking of scope mating, I suppose I should look for a low scope safety and bent bolt? How bent is bent? ( Mine seems to be a little swept backward ) How much rise would a redfield scope base provide?

My reciever has 2 holes in the reciever right in fornt of the bolt handle...
What are they for? A mount? The redfield you told me about?

All answers appreciated.
 
Two holes in front of the bolt handle are for a receiver peep sight. A commercial add-on, the Army didn't use them except for a very few target rifles.

I don't have a good picture at hand but I think the A4 bolt handle was more scalloped out to clear the scope eyepiece than bent over more than an 03 is to start. Bear in mind that scopes were smaller in those days; what would clear a Weaver 330 won't work with a new make 1" scope with big bell.

Most parts seem to have migrated to ebay.

Just how low is that serial number? People get nervous shooting RIAs below SN 285,000 with case hardened "single heat treat" actions.
 
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