I recently picked up an A3O3. Its made by Natl. Ord. in 30-06. It was purchased for a shooter, not collector. I took it to the range yesterday and with the rear sight adjusted as low as it will go, I'm shooting about 12" high at 100 yards. Is there any idea how much to raise the front sight to lower POI? I already replaced the front sight(today) with one that is about .100 taller. Without shooting, is there any thoughts as to whether this might be enough? (Man this thing Kicks!!) Thanks-Bill
O3A3 sight question
- Thread starter pyscodog
- Start date
ninehorses
New member
What ammo? You may have to get ammo that is closer to ball to get the sights to work.
Sorry, not what you were asking, but just a thought that popped in my head.
Sorry, not what you were asking, but just a thought that popped in my head.
Chupathingy
New member
BTT
I'm interested in this topic as well because I had the same problem with a Mauser that had been converted to .308. Thing shot 4" high at 100yds and couldn't get it any lower than that.
Chupa
I'm interested in this topic as well because I had the same problem with a Mauser that had been converted to .308. Thing shot 4" high at 100yds and couldn't get it any lower than that.
Chupa
ninehorses
New member
Chupa,
You could take a small file to the rear sight notch and lower it slightly, or you could silver solder a bead to the top of the front sight. For a test, epoxy a small short piece of wire on top of the front sight. You might even find some fiber-optic to stick on top. If I remember, it's a Yugo, then it's a dovetail, take a brass punch and tap it out. Find a gunsmith, or call Numrich Gun Parts, and get a taller one.
P.S. The hood slides off, and a pair of needle nose pliers used inside in reverse will help reinstall it.
You could take a small file to the rear sight notch and lower it slightly, or you could silver solder a bead to the top of the front sight. For a test, epoxy a small short piece of wire on top of the front sight. You might even find some fiber-optic to stick on top. If I remember, it's a Yugo, then it's a dovetail, take a brass punch and tap it out. Find a gunsmith, or call Numrich Gun Parts, and get a taller one.
P.S. The hood slides off, and a pair of needle nose pliers used inside in reverse will help reinstall it.
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willy1947
Active member
This formula calculates the MAGNITUDE ONLY of the sight height change; refer to the instructions above to find the correct direction for the adjustment (front or rear sight, longer or shorter). Likewise, all distances must be in the same units. That is, if a change in inches to the sight height is desired, and one is shooting on a 100-yard range, then R1 (100 yd) must be converted to inches (100 × 36 = 3600 inches) before using this distance in the equation.
An example: Consider a rifle with a distance between front and rear sights of 26.25 inches, firing on a 50-yard (1800 in) range, with point of impact 5.3 inches too high on the target, having a front sight blade that is 0.505 inches high mounted in a dovetail. How much must the front sight blade height be changed by to fix this problem? (It will be assumed that the muzzle of the rifle intrudes into the range space for following typical gun range safety protocols, and the rear sight is hence 50 yards from the target.)
D2 = R2(D1/R1) = 26.25(5.3/1800) = 0.077" (magnitude of change to front sight height)
Since the gun is hitting too high, the front sight must be lengthened by this much per the instructions cited previously; hence, the front sight must be replaced with a blade that is 0.505" + 0.077" = 0.582" high. With this correction, the rifle will hit the desired point of impact, all other factors being equal.
Math is not my strong point, but I shot a number of different 30-06's in competition over a 20+ year period.
For most 24-26" barrels, .003" = 1/4 moa or 1/4" @ 100 yds.
(or .012" = 1"). Since you need 12", I'd add about .150" to the front sight and take a file to the range to adjust height as needed.
Regards,
hm.
For most 24-26" barrels, .003" = 1/4 moa or 1/4" @ 100 yds.
(or .012" = 1"). Since you need 12", I'd add about .150" to the front sight and take a file to the range to adjust height as needed.
Regards,
hm.
Originally Posted By: willy1947
This formula calculates the MAGNITUDE ONLY of the sight height change; refer to the instructions above to find the correct direction for the adjustment (front or rear sight, longer or shorter). Likewise, all distances must be in the same units. That is, if a change in inches to the sight height is desired, and one is shooting on a 100-yard range, then R1 (100 yd) must be converted to inches (100 × 36 = 3600 inches) before using this distance in the equation.
An example: Consider a rifle with a distance between front and rear sights of 26.25 inches, firing on a 50-yard (1800 in) range, with point of impact 5.3 inches too high on the target, having a front sight blade that is 0.505 inches high mounted in a dovetail. How much must the front sight blade height be changed by to fix this problem? (It will be assumed that the muzzle of the rifle intrudes into the range space for following typical gun range safety protocols, and the rear sight is hence 50 yards from the target.)
D2 = R2(D1/R1) = 26.25(5.3/1800) = 0.077" (magnitude of change to front sight height)
Since the gun is hitting too high, the front sight must be lengthened by this much per the instructions cited previously; hence, the front sight must be replaced with a blade that is 0.505" + 0.077" = 0.582" high. With this correction, the rifle will hit the desired point of impact, all other factors being equal.
Sorry Willy-Not enough fingers and toes for that equasion. I'm just an old Okie with a rifle shooting to high. But thanks!
hm- thats a bit easier to figure for me.
This formula calculates the MAGNITUDE ONLY of the sight height change; refer to the instructions above to find the correct direction for the adjustment (front or rear sight, longer or shorter). Likewise, all distances must be in the same units. That is, if a change in inches to the sight height is desired, and one is shooting on a 100-yard range, then R1 (100 yd) must be converted to inches (100 × 36 = 3600 inches) before using this distance in the equation.
An example: Consider a rifle with a distance between front and rear sights of 26.25 inches, firing on a 50-yard (1800 in) range, with point of impact 5.3 inches too high on the target, having a front sight blade that is 0.505 inches high mounted in a dovetail. How much must the front sight blade height be changed by to fix this problem? (It will be assumed that the muzzle of the rifle intrudes into the range space for following typical gun range safety protocols, and the rear sight is hence 50 yards from the target.)
D2 = R2(D1/R1) = 26.25(5.3/1800) = 0.077" (magnitude of change to front sight height)
Since the gun is hitting too high, the front sight must be lengthened by this much per the instructions cited previously; hence, the front sight must be replaced with a blade that is 0.505" + 0.077" = 0.582" high. With this correction, the rifle will hit the desired point of impact, all other factors being equal.
Sorry Willy-Not enough fingers and toes for that equasion. I'm just an old Okie with a rifle shooting to high. But thanks!
hm- thats a bit easier to figure for me.
Terry N.
New member
Originally Posted By: ChupathingyBTT
I'm interested in this topic as well because I had the same problem with a Mauser that had been converted to .308. Thing shot 4" high at 100yds and couldn't get it any lower than that.
Chupa
Brownells carries an extra height Mauser front sight specifically for this reason.
And for the OP, your National Ordnance rifle has no collector's value. The receiver is an aftermarket reproduction, assembled with milsurp parts. It's value is the sum value of the parts.
I'm interested in this topic as well because I had the same problem with a Mauser that had been converted to .308. Thing shot 4" high at 100yds and couldn't get it any lower than that.
Chupa
Brownells carries an extra height Mauser front sight specifically for this reason.
And for the OP, your National Ordnance rifle has no collector's value. The receiver is an aftermarket reproduction, assembled with milsurp parts. It's value is the sum value of the parts.
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ninehorses
New member
There's a 03 here in Mason, at the gunstore, with a five thousand something ser. number if anyone is intrested.
I bought mine for one reason, to shoot! I didn't care about collector value as I am not a collector. We have an occasional match at the club shooting military rifles only and I always got left out. I really don't even like military rifles that much but wanted an entry level "Shooter" rifle. Hence the Natl. Ord. It shows alot of accuracy potential, just shoots way high. Hopefully, the new sight I made at work today will solve that problem.
Quote:Glad you like the 03A3, that was the first rifle I shot in the military.
Hey, Willy, you're kinda revealing your age, there.
(I can razz ya a bit as my first mos was half track driver!)
We were issued garands, but there were four brand new 1903A4's in the arms room. I sure wanted to get my hands on one of them but they were never fired as we never got the scopes for them.
Psycho, if you want a super accurate handload for your A3, work up slowly to around 47 gr. of 4895 behind a 150-168 gr Sierra Match King. Very closely duplicates the M2 ball w/150 or the M72 Match w/the 168's.
Regards,
hm
Hey, Willy, you're kinda revealing your age, there.
We were issued garands, but there were four brand new 1903A4's in the arms room. I sure wanted to get my hands on one of them but they were never fired as we never got the scopes for them.
Psycho, if you want a super accurate handload for your A3, work up slowly to around 47 gr. of 4895 behind a 150-168 gr Sierra Match King. Very closely duplicates the M2 ball w/150 or the M72 Match w/the 168's.
Regards,
hm
Wish I had a nickel for every SMK I put downrange between 1983 & 1999. Pretty much duplicates trajectory of the GI ammo (which Uncle Sam so graciously supplied until '61
) but a bit more accurate. Used the 168's pretty much exclusively out of the M1 but stepped up to 190's for 600-1000 out of the bolt guns.
Regards,
hm
Regards,
hm
Well, just returned from the club with tha A3O3. Shooting 150 grain Monarch ammo, cheapest thing I could find, and replacing the old blade sight with a taller one, I managed 4 rounds in the nine ring and 2 in the ten ring at 100 yards. I'm learning really quick, most of the accuracy in these rifles is "Shooter". Once you learn how to hold a sight picture and the rifle, the groups start to come. I got a looooonnng way to go but now I'll start reloading.
Sounds like ya got it dialed in OK.
Your rear sight may be all the way down from what you said earlier, but if not, watch it. I shot an A3 in a 600 yard match held to commemorate the 80'th anniversary of the adaptation of the 03's and it would drop every 3rd or 4th shot out at 6 o'clock. Discovered the rear sight was being jarred by recoil enough to let it slip down a notch, but not before it cost me several points until I figured out what was going on.
Great sport; enjoy your new found "addiction" psycho.
Regards,
hm
Your rear sight may be all the way down from what you said earlier, but if not, watch it. I shot an A3 in a 600 yard match held to commemorate the 80'th anniversary of the adaptation of the 03's and it would drop every 3rd or 4th shot out at 6 o'clock. Discovered the rear sight was being jarred by recoil enough to let it slip down a notch, but not before it cost me several points until I figured out what was going on.
Great sport; enjoy your new found "addiction" psycho.
Regards,
hm