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10 Sight Offset Question (Read 21011 times)
gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #15 - Mar 11th, 2013 at 2:56am
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I was thinking about that step.  The end of my barrel mics at .642" dia.  I read somewhere online that the end of the 1903A3 barrels were .645" dia. where the sight fit on.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a 1903A3 sight may be a line to line fit or slightly loose.  In a couple weeks I'll get the parts and we'll see.

I almost forgot to mention, at first I was considering using the band front sight from a No1 MkIII Lee Enfield.  That definitely would've required turning a little off the diameter at the end of the barrel.
  
Tom P.
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gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #16 - Mar 16th, 2013 at 3:39pm
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I received my 1903A3 front sight base from Numrich today.  It looks like it was taken off a rifle by a gorilla with a sledge hammer but I can pretty it up.  Best of all, it slips on with just a little twisting and covers up the dovetail in the barrel completely.

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I will probably fill in the dovetail with JB Weld.  I forgot that the 1903A3 retaining pin engaged a separate key that fit into the top of the barrel.  So to retain the sight base I think I'll drill a retaining pin hole like on the 1903 front sight base. 
  
Tom P.
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DocCasualty
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #17 - Mar 17th, 2013 at 3:22am
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Looks like it's coming together.  Are you going to cold blue the sight?
  
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gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #18 - Mar 17th, 2013 at 5:15pm
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Yeah, I will polish it up and cold blue it, probably many applications, to try to match the barrel color.  I have a product that produces a finish that's almost black:  "Blue Wonder Gun Black".  I've gotten good results with it before.

Thinking again about how to attach the sight base, maybe I could just use solder like on the front sight bases of many Mausers.  The fit is close enough I should get a good bond.  In that case, of course, I won't even try to fill in the dovetail.
  
Tom P.
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tanker
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #19 - Mar 17th, 2013 at 7:06pm
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I have had good results using silver solder when a close fit is present. I believe with your situation I would first fill in the dovetail and file shape it, then fit the band and sweat it on. Filling the void should reduce muzzle flex when firing to a minimum. Brownell's sells a low melt temp silver solder compound that I have had very controllable and satisfactory results with.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #20 - Mar 17th, 2013 at 9:18pm
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gunboat57:  Why don't you take a piece of mild steel, like a spike, and hammer some flats and file to shape to make a "key" or spline to fit the groove of your 1903-A3 banded sight.  You could have this fit your barrel dove-tail and angle its base to correct for the dove-tail not being at "12 O'clock".  Once the spline is fitted, the barrel band could be tapped into place.  A filed notch on the spline would allow the band to be locked into place with a cross-pin.
  
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gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #21 - Mar 19th, 2013 at 8:57pm
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Well, after considering everyone's valued input, here's what I ended up doing.

Plan A:  I drilled straight down through the sight base near the back edge.  My intention was to put a set screw in the base that would tighten into a shallow hole drilled dead center in the top of the barrel.  My big mistake was choosing a 6-32 thread.  It's been my experience and the experience of a few machinists I've known that 6-32s can be difficult threads to tap.  My tap broke off flush just as it got through the hole.  I couldn't get it out no matter what so I just ground it off clean at both ends of the hole.

Plan B:  I drilled and tapped a shallow 6-48 threaded hole in the barrel at 6 o'clock.  I drilled a matching hole in the underside of the band on the sight base.  Once it's put together, a short set screw lock-tited into the hole will keep the sight base from sliding or twisting on the barrel.
  
Tom P.
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gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #22 - Mar 26th, 2013 at 7:44pm
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Here's what the front sight looks like now.  The set screw that holds the sight base in place is sticking out a bit underneath.  It could use a bit of trimming.  I need to cold blue the sight base more also.
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Here's what the rifle looks like overall.  Barrel is 24 inch.  The stock was cut off (before I got it) but otherwise not thinned or shortened in the butt.  Swivels and buttplate are originals, just the way I like 'em.
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Very soon I'll be getting to the range to sight in.  I suspect I'll be taking some off the top of the front sight blade to zero with commercial ammo.  My plan is to use reduced power jacketed loads for groundhog hunting.  I might even dabble in cast boolit loads, too.
  
Tom P.
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DocCasualty
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #23 - Mar 26th, 2013 at 8:51pm
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Besides the sights now aligning, I think you've improved on the prior sporterization with the receiver mounted peep. I'll bet it's a better sight picture with quicker acquisition for picking off those varmints.
  
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gunboat57
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Re: Sight Offset Question
Reply #24 - Mar 27th, 2013 at 11:28am
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Yeah, I had to admit to myself about 5 years ago that the notches on barrel mounted rear sights were made for 20-somethings, not for 50 year-olds.  If I'm going to use iron sights out to 100 yards on the varmints, I need a receiver mounted aperture.

Update a couple hours later:
I got to the range and did some shooting at 50 yards.  Rear sight was at its top setting, full height front sight blade.  I fired 3 of my reloads and one Winchester commercial round.
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Now it's time for some front sight height adjusting.  My goal is to have the commercial round hit .5" high at 50 yards when the rear sight is in the lowest position.  That'll leave me enough rear sight adjustment to zero my handloads at 100 yards.  Break out the file and the calculator!
« Last Edit: Mar 27th, 2013 at 6:05pm by gunboat57 »  
Tom P.
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