Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 03A3

I have a 1903 Remington Springfield that has had the dovetail ground off the rear of the receiver, is it still possible to put a scope base on it?

Why do people do that? I'm guessing the steel that's left is about a 1/64" thick. You'll have to have it built back up by welding or silver soldering.

Ya it's pretty thin.

I've seen several 1903A3's that were contoured to match the standard 1903 rear contour, then used a 1903 scope base.

Bruce

Agree. My only thought is the guy who did it liked the looks of the std -03 better, and tried to make the 030A3 look like the -03.
It's really a dumb move...

Are you sure it is not a transition model? The first Springfields turned out by Remington resembled the RIA and Springfield '03's.

In the early 60s, when the 03A3 started becoming available through the DCM, Weaver made a base that would straddle the raised part of the rear receiver ring. You drilled through the raised part.

Before then, IIRC, you had to use a flat bottomed base, and grind off the raised part.

The first time one was brought into our shop, the owner said he wanted the raised part ground off and a flat bottomed base put on.

I refused to do it. I explained that the rear receiver ring was too thin and would not be strong enough to hold the threaded screws.

This guy was a sort or know it all and he said that he didn't plan of carrying the rifle around using the scope as a handle.

So, okay, I did it his way, and I waited anxiously, thinking of what I would say to him when he brought the rifle back with the screws stripped out.

After I drilled and tapped the thin bridge, I pulled on the screws and they would not come out, but I still thought it was a bad idea.

He came back into the shop several times and I always asked him how the rear base was holding up. It never gave him a bit of trouble, and he sent some of his friends in to have the same thing done to their 03A3s.

I still thought it was a bad idea, but if they insisted, I would do it. As far as I know, no one had any problem with the rear screws holding, but I think the Weaver idea with the relief cut for the high part was a much better idea.

With the type steel in the 03A3, and the heat treating, I think the rear receiver ring is plenty strong enough to hold a scope in place. At least, I never heard of any coming loose when modified they way I did it.

It's definitely been ground on.

Can you post a pic? It is not common in this area. I haunt pawn shops looking for old 03's to build sporters on, and I have never seen this done. TIA

If the receiver ring doesn't say 1903A3, it didn't have a dovetail.

Bruce

It says Remington Model 1903, but someone did grind on the receiver.

I've often seen file marks on 1903's. I would guess it was to correct a high rear base.

Lots easier to file a convex receiver than a concave base, if all you have is a flat file.

Always wondered why they didn't just shim the front base instead.

Or maybe someone just wanted to fit the rifle to a ??? base they already had. I've seen lots of makeshift stuff that would have been easier to do it right.

Bruce

As near as I can tell by the serial# it is a M1903 made in 1942.