1903a3 SC Rear Sight - Slipped up to Max Elevation

[Dave B from western NY]

Gentlemen,

During a military rifle match this morning my 1903a3 SC rear sight "slipped" to the highest elevation setting while shooting the off hand portion of the match. It had stayed put during 5 sighters, prone slow, and prone rapid fire. During offhand I was rewarded with two complete misses in a row for the 4th and 5th rounds. I finally woke up and looked at the rear sight and noticed it was at the max elevation. I suppose I could have brushed the sight some how and moved it up, but I am not award that I did so. I moved it back to the correct position and finished up without it moving again.

I checked the sight when servicing the rifle at home, and the small screw in the center of the part of the sight that slides is tight.

Does this type of sight movement sometimes happen with a SWC 1903a3, or is it more likely operator error? If the sight may have slipped back under recoil is there an adjustment I could make to reduce the likely hood of it happening again?

I did a search in the forum but could not come up with a post about this, but certainly could have missed one.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Dave B

[Mike D]

Could have been operator error. I recently shot my SC A3 and the aperture slipped DOWN under recoil. You, and I, might have a worn aperture spring. That is the small stamped metal piece under the screw you checked.

[chuckindenver]

broken flat spring

[Kirk]

My A3 lost elevation - the spring lost the tension needed to keep it in place. I bought a spare from Numrich this summer & it works OK. The tension was about 2x of the one I replaced.

[John Beard]

An M'03-A3 rear sight normally slips DOWN to LOWEST elevation during recoil if the sight is worn or damaged. The fact that yours slipped UP to HIGHEST elevation is indicative of operator error. Did you perhaps jam the butt on the ground? Nothing is wrong with your sight.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Dave B from western NY]

Gentlemen, thanks for the response.

During the off hand part of the match I did rest the butt of the rifle
on the ground to rest a bit. I don't recall dropping it to the
ground with any force, but who knows. I'll see if the rear sight
can be made to slip up by giving the butt a bit of a thump.

Thanks again for your help.

Dave