geralsc3

new cocking piece, safety doesnt line up with the cocking piece! have to pull it back a little. need help

dfariswheel

This is a common problem with military surplus Mauser rifles, and once in a while a US Springfield.

The problem is caused by used/worn and miss-matching of parts.
This is caused by the cocking piece and sear not being in spec or proper fit.
This allows the cocking piece to sit too far forward and the usual cause is the safety is very hard or impossible to put On.
Another safety concern is that the trigger can be pulled and when the safety is moved to Off, the rifle will fire.

The only real fix is to try different sears and cocking pieces until you get a set that mate up properly and work correctly.

A common mistake is to start stoning or grinding parts to MAKE them fit.
This always ruins the parts because they have a very thin glass hard surface treatment.
This case hardening gives a very hard, wear resistant surface, but a soft enough part that it won't shatter.

If you stone or grind on the parts you break through that very thin "crust" and expose the soft steel.
The part quickly wears and actually gets harder to move the parts as the soft inner steel wears.
This also results in an unsafe rifle.

Best advice is to try to find another sear and cocking piece and hope they work together.
If not all you can do is send the parts back and try again.

Sometimes parts sellers are at gun shows and you can hand pick.

If you can get parts in good condition they'll usually fit correctly in a US made military rifle.

Here's a couple of sources of "usually" good parts in good condition.....
Note that all the 1903 series rifles used the same bolt and sear parts.
I'd try to buy a new sear, new striker rod (cocking piece) and a new trigger. That "should" correct the problem.
Again, don't stone or grind the parts.

https://www.fulton-armory.com/M1903A3-Parts.aspx
These will be new parts.

https://www.amherst-depot.com/gunparts.htm

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/
Quality ranges from like new to well used.

http://www.poppertsgunparts.com/cgi-...a_gunparts.cgi

geralsc3

thanks ! can a gunsmith fix this problem

geralsc3

can a gunsmith fix this

geralsc3

thanks ! all help , I am thankfull

geralsc3

thanks ! all help , I am thankfull

geralsc3

update ! the gunsmith fixed that problem . then he found that the head space was wrong ! the bolt wouldnt close all the way , any ideas as to why it would be off , maybe the bolt has been changed

dfariswheel

The bolt might have been changed, or the receiver locking lugs have worn or suffered set back.
If shot enough, or shot with hot overloaded ammo the receiver can stretch or the locking lugs can be pushed back from impact.
This usually causes too much headspace and the bolt will close on a headspace gauge it shouldn't.

If it's the bolt you have choices.....
One is to get several bolts and use headspace gauges to select a bolt that fits properly.

Second, assuming it's not a worn or defective receiver, have a gunsmith set the barrel back one thread and have the chamber reamed to the proper head space, or possibly it's in such a condition that a gunsmith could just use a chambering reamer to deepen the chamber so it closes and headspaces correctly.

All this depends on what's wrong. For the answer see a gunsmith. He should be able to figure it out in short order and recommend what to do.

geralsc3

thank for the help

geralsc3

new problem with the follower not loading ! I am about to give up20190303_124409.jpg

bearcat6

There is a magazine cutoff on the left rear of the receiver, if it is on the rounds in the magazine will not feed. You need to flip it and see if that fixes your problem. It will say off and on.

geralsc3

thanks ! I tried that , didnt work ! I ordered a new follower and spring
I am not going to give up ! this gun is clean
built between 1910 to 1911 . according to the serial number . 2 groove barrel, bright and strong

bearcat6

You should check the serial no. to see if it is ok to shoot. guns with Serial numbers below 800000 are said to be brittle due to the heat treatment. here's an article
Information On M1903 Receiver Failures

geralsc3

I did ,thanks

dfariswheel

Common reasons for bolt rifles failing to feed.......

The magazine is not properly seated into the bottom of the receiver.
If there's a gap between the receiver and the top of the trigger guard magazine the rifle may not feed correctly.

Damaged or altered magazine follower.

"Squashed" or bent magazine box.

Number one cause is a weak or even wrong magazine spring.
After checking all the above, buy a new replacement magazine spring.

Sources for parts are in the above post.

geralsc3

thanks again for the help . I have ordered a new follower and new spring ! I will post the updates, when I get the new parts

csmkersh

These have been my main headaches with issue mags for both rifle and pistol.

dfariswheel

You'd think the sturdy 1903 trigger guard-magazine assembly wouldn't bend that easily but these are not hard at all and can be squashed with a strong hand,

geralsc3

yes , you are right

geralsc3

the headspace was fixed , index marks on the barrell would not line up when the barrell was tightened ! now the front sight is crooked , is there a way to fix this after he already reamed the barrell ?