OK, I think you fellows have identified the problem for me, now help me figure out what to do about it.

The rifle currently has a "sporterized" military stock (not completely finished and apparently done by an unemployed lumberjack with borrowed tools); otherwise it is as-issued with the military barrel and rear sight collar.

It's the rear sight collar that's causing it not to fit even a little bit into a synthetic stock for an '03A3 (a Ramline Syn-Tec) and given the amount of plastic I'd have to remove to make it fit and the thickness (thin-ness?) of the stock at that point I'm hesitant to try hogging it on out. Is it possible to remove the rear sight collar and what's involved?

Thanks again. -WSJ

The only difference I have ever noticed is that the "groove" where the cutt off spindle head rides is absent on the '03A3's. Never really noticed that the inletting of wood needed to be different though. But then again...I don't own any '03A3's...just '03's.

See, you learn something new everyday!

Thanks,

Rick