Why does my 1903 springfield ( military rifle) shoot 6" high, with the back site as low as it can go, at 25 yrs with reloads such as 49-50 grs IMR 4064 pushing 165 to 180 grain copper jacketed bullets?

I assume that this rifle was meant to shoot heavy bullets, but was the back site (laying down flat) anywhere near accurate with ammo it was meant to shoot???

Or, can I load a near max load in this rifle and it will not shoot high? Anyone with this problem, please pipe up if you have solution. Thanks.

Can't say for sure on Springfields, only have owned a few over the years, but back when i was into military mausers, they routinely were 7-9 inches high. I remember something about this compensating for a soldiers tendency to shoot low. That could be wrong, an old wives tale, misremembered, or correct. But they did shoot high. I killed a number of deer with them, and used head shots where I held under an inch or so below the head, aiming at air.
Bfly

It shoots high because your in canada,just ask bbrucie.

Actually ,many military rifles have what is know as a "battle sight" zeroed for about 300 yds,usually at the bottom of the slide.You need to slide the sight slighhtly forward to a yard marking.


Also,the sights on my old 03-a3 were regulated for the old military load of a 150gr bullet at 2700 fps.when I loaded some rounds to that spec,the sights were right on.
Or your gun may have been modified with a different sight.

quote:

Originally posted by jb:
It shoots high because your in canada,just ask bbrucie.

Actually ,many military rifles have what is know as a "battle sight" zeroed for about 300 yds,usually at the bottom of the slide.You need to slide the sight slighhtly forward to a yard marking.


Also,the sights on my old 03-a3 were regulated for the old military load of a 150gr bullet at 2700 fps.when I loaded some rounds to that spec,the sights were right on.
Or your gun may have been modified with a different sight.

That's right! the earth spins faster because the diameter is smaller in the northern latitudes! The additional centripital force causes bullets to fling upward.

jb's dead-on about battle sights. Move the slide a bit forward and you'll see it goes down at first, not up. I always thought that was a hold over from volley fire from fixed positions but maybe not.

Like most military rifles of the period, the iron sights of the 1903 were zeroed around 500 yards. However, you should be able to shoot at closer range by lifting the ladder to use the peepsight.

Andre is close. It has a 300 yard zero. You can buy a higher front sight blade or use a 6 O'clock hold on target.

I believe they called it battle sights! roger

So if you wanted to shoot in a window pane stat, --say 6" wide and 6'inches high-- at 25 yards...you aimed at the flower pot six inches below the helmet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In any case, as the world spins, I thank everyone for the info..

Don't what to nit pic but as Canada spins ( I suppose) the .303 Lee Enfield sights don't have the same issues up here at least. LOL

Thanks again....will try harder next time I get to the range... I'm gona think flower pot, flower pot....and squeeze.

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
Like most military rifles of the period, the iron sights of the 1903 were zeroed around 500 yards. However, you should be able to shoot at closer range by lifting the ladder to use the peepsight.

Yes this is what I do...at close range so far...because I have to...sort of thing. Problem I have is would my target wait for me to raise the ladder if it was fight or flight.

That's the battle sight zero. Dead on at 547 yards, but on a man-sized silohette at any place from the muzzle to 547 yards w/o having to adjust the sight.

quote:

Originally posted by El Deguello:
That's the battle sight zero. Dead on at 547 yards, but on a man-sized silohette at any place from the muzzle to 547 yards w/o having to adjust the sight.

I believe this post by Deguello is the correct answer.

It is my understanding it was intended so that a soldier could aim at the dead middle of a standing (or charging) man and have the bullet neither fall short nor go over his head.

True the sight assembly was adjustable,but in battle that is generally a thing a combatant doesn't have time to screw around with during a fire-fight. It was considered better that at any reasonable range he simply be able to aim and shoot...and still hit the opponent SOMEWHERE.

Also, in that position (lying flat) the sight is much less likely to get knocked akimber in the rough and tumble of war.