Ontario Hunter
AH ambassador
Not sure anyone has done this but thought I'd throw the question out there just in case.
I have an 03A3 that was initially sporterized by my dad in 1964. Over the years I have modified it several times, sometimes out of necessity (e.g. horse wreck broke the stock) and sometimes for something to do (adding QD rings and optional iron sights). Dad put a wing style scope relief safety on it. Not a Buhler unfortunately. Dayton Traister I think. That safety was always a problem because just rattling the bolt handle could disengage it. I put up with it for fifty years before finding an alternative from SARRCO. Also a wing safety but this one attached differently and operated from the left side. With some modification I was able to make it work safely. Now another problem surfaced. When I switch to iron sights the safety wing is left unprotected and perched precariously up in the air where it can get caught on any little thing and inadvertently disengaged. When building my 404 on a 98 Mauser I opted for a 3-position Model 70 style safety to overcome this issue. Unfortunately, there's now only one source for those safeties for 03A3 and he is very proud of them (+$400 in the white). Recently I read a few threads in other forums that indicate a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 bolt shroud and safety will thread onto and mate with 03A3 bolt. The problem lies with the cocking piece and striker. Winchester cocking piece/striker won't mate to Springfield trigger and Springfield striker rod is different length than Winchester. In both instances the chaps who attempted the modification made new cocking piece/striker rods. Very complicated machining challenge. I'm thinking the challenge might have been simplified greatly had either of those guys known the 03A3 striker and cocking piece can be disassembled. Because my latest safety is on the left side, I had to cut off the trademark Springfield striker knob to access the safety with right thumb. That's when I discovered the rod was actually threaded into the knob and peened/welded together on face of knob. I'm thinking a new striker rod of appropriate length can be easily machined and threaded from round stock. The new length will need to accommodate the Winchester bolt shroud. A slot will also have to be machined in the side of the striker rod for the Model 70 safety lever. The tricky part will be locating that slot in the correct spot, correct length, and depth. Fortunately, 03A3 strikers are still fairly easy to come by so lots of trial and error won't break the bank. I prefer to retain the Springfield two piece style striker rod. It allows one to change a broken firing pin tip without discarding the entire striker/cocking piece/firing pin assembly (Winchester is apparently all one piece).
So ... anyone else attempted this? Or can someone provide me with a few strategic dimensions so I can see if it can be done with the tools available to me?
Thanks.
I have an 03A3 that was initially sporterized by my dad in 1964. Over the years I have modified it several times, sometimes out of necessity (e.g. horse wreck broke the stock) and sometimes for something to do (adding QD rings and optional iron sights). Dad put a wing style scope relief safety on it. Not a Buhler unfortunately. Dayton Traister I think. That safety was always a problem because just rattling the bolt handle could disengage it. I put up with it for fifty years before finding an alternative from SARRCO. Also a wing safety but this one attached differently and operated from the left side. With some modification I was able to make it work safely. Now another problem surfaced. When I switch to iron sights the safety wing is left unprotected and perched precariously up in the air where it can get caught on any little thing and inadvertently disengaged. When building my 404 on a 98 Mauser I opted for a 3-position Model 70 style safety to overcome this issue. Unfortunately, there's now only one source for those safeties for 03A3 and he is very proud of them (+$400 in the white). Recently I read a few threads in other forums that indicate a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 bolt shroud and safety will thread onto and mate with 03A3 bolt. The problem lies with the cocking piece and striker. Winchester cocking piece/striker won't mate to Springfield trigger and Springfield striker rod is different length than Winchester. In both instances the chaps who attempted the modification made new cocking piece/striker rods. Very complicated machining challenge. I'm thinking the challenge might have been simplified greatly had either of those guys known the 03A3 striker and cocking piece can be disassembled. Because my latest safety is on the left side, I had to cut off the trademark Springfield striker knob to access the safety with right thumb. That's when I discovered the rod was actually threaded into the knob and peened/welded together on face of knob. I'm thinking a new striker rod of appropriate length can be easily machined and threaded from round stock. The new length will need to accommodate the Winchester bolt shroud. A slot will also have to be machined in the side of the striker rod for the Model 70 safety lever. The tricky part will be locating that slot in the correct spot, correct length, and depth. Fortunately, 03A3 strikers are still fairly easy to come by so lots of trial and error won't break the bank. I prefer to retain the Springfield two piece style striker rod. It allows one to change a broken firing pin tip without discarding the entire striker/cocking piece/firing pin assembly (Winchester is apparently all one piece).
So ... anyone else attempted this? Or can someone provide me with a few strategic dimensions so I can see if it can be done with the tools available to me?
Thanks.
