03a4 thoughts?

[Col. Colt]

Bill, I have the same deal - it all started with a well used "boxed SA" 03A4 GI scant stock set off of ebay for cheap - which grew into an A4 project! A month latter in a pawn shop I found a very mildly sporterized 03A3 that came already drilled and tapped for Redfield Jr. mount. Sadly, someone had shortened an original 03A4 stock to sporter length when they put it together. Gunsmith customized bolt was replaced with a real one that I had chuckindenver Parkerize, and another local gun guy had an Alaskan with post and mounts.

After messing with later Redfield mounts, I broke down and ordered one of the unmarked Lyman postwar GI replacement bases - which fit perfectly - amazing! All stock metal replaced with new GI, rifle came with a "pad" trigger guard/magazine assembly. Pretty much a GI parts gun with a latter date Alaskan scope and mounts.

Interestingly, the GI A4 bolt handle does not quite close all the way in the GI scant stock bolt cut, just a very slight interferance. on the right side, front edge of cutout. Possibly due to stock swelling over sixty plus years. I will have to fix that, slight though it is. Again, strangely, the "cutdown A4 stock" cut takes the bolt perfectly. Pictures when I have had time to oil the dried out stock - and feel up to it! CC

[emmagee1917]

Check the edge of the reciever in the stock bolt cut out. Does it have a bevel / relief cut there ? Not all A3s have them. If it doesn't , then your bolt may be hitting there and not the wood. To be sure , remove the wood and see if the bolt closes fine then .
Chris

[Col. Colt]

emmagee1917, I asked if the reciever bevel was actually needed on this or another Forum months ago, and was told very firmly that a "REAL" A4 bolt does not need the notch! I duplicated the notch, though not as deep as the real A4 reciever I looked at - I will go back and give it a look. My question was and is, if an 03A4 didn't need that notch, why was Remington wasting machine time and cutters with a War On, to cut the reciever, if it was not needed? There is a mark on the wood inside the bolt cutout, so that will need addressing anyway. Thanks, CC

NEWS FLASH: At emmagee's suggestion I pulled the stock off - the M1903A4 Bolt WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY in an unmodified 03A3 Action without the 03A4 cutout for the Bolt Root. The safety lug should be all the way down on the reciever rail. I made a slight bevel similar looking to a friend's Real 03A4 - but I obviously did not cut it deep enough. Check your 03A4gery - if you did not notch the reciever for the bolt handle, you are probably firing the gun with the locking lugs a little short of their intended seat. CC