Questiion on 1903 Rifles.

[SUB VET II]

Thumbing through TM 9-1270 Us Rifles Cal 30 and on Page 58 it has a picture of the Stock and Barrel and Receiver group. At the rear of the guard is a "Ring". I have four O3's and none have the Ring. The guard slides into the receiver. What am I missing. I will admit my ignorance of this rifle but I'm trying. Thanks for any information.

[Mike D]

Looks like the diagram is of a M1903A3 rifle, if I am looking at the right page. I pulled it off the net.

Mike

[Parashooter]

Actually, the rear end of the 03 handguard is retained by the rear sight fixed base, not the receiver. (See page 57 of the TM.) The 03-A3 you are looking at on page 58 mounts its rear sight on the receiver bridge, so it needs something to hold onto the back of the handguard. The handguard retaining ring slips over the receiver ring and serves that function on the A3.