How to Adjust the Sight on a Smith Corona M1903A3

The Springfield M1903 is a .30-caliber bolt-action rifle that was commissioned by the U.S. Army to be issued as a replacement for the weaker Krag rifles being used by U.S. troops in the Spanish-American war. The design was based on the German Mauser rifle being used by the Mexican soldiers. After entering service in 1903, it underwent very few changes until 1929, when the M1903A1 was issued. In 1942, the M1903A3 entered service, with the primary manufacturers being Remington Arms and the well-known typewriter company, Smith-Corona Typewriters. One of the major differences the M1903A3 possessed was the adoption of the diopter sight in place of the leaf-type tangent sight.

Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp the slide aperture firmly with your thumb and forefinger and slide it up or down the ramp to adjust the elevation. The slide aperture is the part of the sight that you look through when you are aiming the rifle. Each slot in the ramp is equal to a 50-yard graduation.

    • 2

      Turn the windage knob, located on the right side of the sight base, to the left or right to adjust the windage. Each click of the knob represents a change of one minute of angle. This means that each click left or right will result in a horizontal shift of the point of impact of approximately one inch at 100 yards. Each mark on the windage yoke is representative of a four minute of angle change.

    • 3

      Bring your rifle to a shooting range and fire rounds at a target in three-shot groupings. This will give you a good idea of any adjustments you may need to make to properly zero your 1903A3.