Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles 1903 Springfield and sight tool

I've got an old 1903 with an 1942 stamped rebarrel that has good rifling. Recently I came across a p.j. o'hare sight tool. Is this a good tool for dialing in that sight? Will it also work on my old Springfield Buffington trapdoor sight?

I can't speak toward the Buffington sight, but it works a treat on an 03 Springfield. But, it isn't a tool for "dialing in a sight", per se. It's for reclaiming a sight setting for a specific distance with a specific load that was worked out previously and you wish to re-visit. I used one for years, and recently bought another one to replace the first one I sold in a moment of idiocy.

For example, after you've carefully zero'ed in the rifle at say 300 yards with a midrange load utilizing the Sierra 168 Matchking, you set the O'Hare tool on the sight ladder and bring the bottom leg into proper contact with the sight slide, then read the scale on the side of the tool in conjunction with the micrometer on the thimble, and make a note of it in your range book. A year later when you want to revisit that load again and you've been messing with the sight in the interim, you consult your notes, hook the O'Hare tool onto the sight, and adjust things to match. You'll be within a gnat's ass of being back in the bullseye.

P.J.O'Hare sold a bunch of target shooting accessories, mainly geared toward '03 Springfield use. Rear sight covers, front sight hoods, varied rear sight adjusters, score books, etc.- all to be found in his storefront on Commercial Row at Camp Perry and via mail order. A common name brand in The Golden Age when the Springfield dominated competition.

I recently picked up a very nicely made walnut aftermarket stock for a M1903 Springfield. Now I'm looking for a lonely barreled action for my lonely stock. Any ideas where to look?

You might not need it...

I was curious what these look like. Here is a discontinued repro

https://www.buffaloarms.com/repro-of-the-pj-o-hare-m1903-s-sbsmic.html

I will see if I can grap a photo and post that for long term

Yep that's it. I wonder how it compares to the original PJ O'Hare?

Looks to me that a person could do the same with a dial caliper. Tools like dial calipers used to be expensive. Not a tool to leave in a shooting bag and dedicate to the range. Or known to machinists and less to general public. The same for using tools. That might involve a little less care to use.

Adopted grand dad had a PJ O’ Hare with his name engraved on it. Unfortunately his brother got into everything the night he passed away and absconded with everything worth any cash.

I'm pretty sure that's the repro made by Ray-Vin. I have a couple of those, Ray told me he redesigned the original to use fewer parts, but yet improve function. I've never had an original PJ O'Hare Mic, but Rays never been wrong about such things in my experience.

I've got the old P J O'Hare tool.

If you want to shoot competitively the sight micrometer is a must have. Yes a person could use a dial caliper but it’s a borderline disaster holding everything right and for minor adjustments a PITA. Also the sight slide on an 03 can have a slight angular play, so the micrometer has a advantage because it hooks each end of the slide. The correct process is to leave a small amount of tension on the set screw and draw the slide up.

I have the Ray-Vin, like he said, you grab it, hook it on, loosen the lock knob a little and drag the slide with the micrometer knob, relook the the knob and done. It’s fast, easy and precise. Btw, I usually shoot at least two matches a year with the 03 and am the only person that shows up with one. The rest are always Garands, so far the 03 has gone undefeated, I can only contribute that to the sight micrometer.

God I love hearing tales of 03's rocking it in competition!