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Ross rifle questions

9K views 35 replies 4 participants last post by  beastybaconman 
#1 ·
I have a 1905 mkII ross rifle I got from my grandpa a while ago, it's missing a few parts and I'd like to get it going again. The main things it needs to fire are the bolt and rear sight. The bolt shouldn't be too hard to find, I've seen a few on ebay. Is there anything I should look out for when I get a bolt?
My gun did have a rear sight but I put it on a different gun that I used for a while and ended up selling. I'd like to get one of the ladder sights for it like it's supposed to have. How do those attach because I have a dovetail but no holes for a sight base? Also where should I look to get the rear sight? Any help is appreciated.
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#2 ·
I'd like to get one of the ladder sights for it like it's supposed to have. How do those attach because I have a dovetail but no holes for a sight base? Also where should I look to get the rear sight? Any help is appreciated. View attachment 89483
If you remove the barreled action from the stock, chances are good you'll find two sight base screw holes on the under surface of the barrel. Reason for this was that many Ross rifles (as well as SMLEs) had their chambers machined oversize to accommodate the wildly varying dimensions of wartime production ammo, as well as assist in extracting fired rounds under less than ideal conditions in the trenches. To address this issue when rifles were sporterized - and thus eliminate the possibility of bulged/split brass - barrels were often set back and rechambered. The result was that the two sight base screw holes on top ended up underneath. Not saying this is the case with your rifle, but it's a good possibility. As for the sight base and ladder, you'll see them every so often on Ebay - along with the bolts.
 
#3 ·
The result was that the two sight base screw holes on top ended up underneath. Not saying this is the case with your rifle, but it's a good possibility.
I just took the stock off and I didn't see any holes in the bottom other than the two in the receiver for the trigger guard bolts. If the barrel was set back and rechambered how much shorter would it be? My barrel is about 23 5/16 inches. Do you know where the sight base holes are usually located, because the dovetail in my barrel is about 5 3/8 inches from the end of the receiver. Could it be possible that someone cut the dovetail right where the holes are supposed to be? Also do you know what the two screws are for on the bottom of the receiver? The bigger one is smoked in pretty decent I'm thinking it's probably a set screw for the barrel but I can't figure out what the other one is for.
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#4 ·
I just took the stock off and I didn't see any holes in the bottom other than the two in the receiver for the trigger guard bolts. If the barrel was set back and rechambered how much shorter would it be? My barrel is about 23 5/16 inches. Do you know where the sight base holes are usually located, because the dovetail in my barrel is about 5 3/8 inches from the end of the receiver. Could it be possible that someone cut the dovetail right where the holes are supposed to be? Also do you know what the two screws are for on the bottom of the receiver? The bigger one is smoked in pretty decent I'm thinking it's probably a set screw for the barrel but I can't figure out what the other one is for. View attachment 89489
Just measured the distance from the receiver face to center of sight base screws of my M1905 MkII. Rear screw distance is 2 3/4", forward screw 4 5/8". The two smaller screw holes in the underside of the receiver are for the twin forward triggerguard screws. They're spaced apart to allow for movement of the magazine depressor assembly. You're correct regarding the larger screw - it's the barrel's set screw. Be ready for a surprise if you try to remove the barrel. Normally they're not much more than hand tightened - the set screw serving to lock things in place, but the barrel has a reverse thread. Try to loosen it in the normal fashion and you'll only be tightening it. Barrel setback for rechambering was just the distance of one thread, and unless the top of the receiver ring or barrel shank of your rifle is stamped CE (for chamber enlarged) the chamber is most likely standard dimension. Most common rifles with enlarged chambers were the 1910s - which actually saw brief service in France. Barrel length of an as-issue 1905/II is a bit over 27", so your's may have been produced as a sporter. Ross did make 1905 sporting rifles, and they did utilize the type of rear sight shown in your photo. I don't have the Ross sporter spec info handy at the moment, so can't help you with the barrel length. I'm certain you'll find a bolt assembly on Ebay. You might also consider looking for a spare extractor. If you run into a wall looking for an original sight base/ladder assembly, and have someone who will drill and tap the screw holes, I think I may have an '05 base/ladder in one of my many parts boxes. I don't think it'd look quite right on a sporter length barrel, but if you want to give it a try just let me know and I'll commence a search - lots of parts boxes in a three story house so it may take a while assuming it's still there. All the best with your restoration project - Ross '05s are really neat rifles and generally are great shooters.
 
#6 ·
Ross did make 1905 sporting rifles, and they did utilize the type of rear sight shown in your photo.
Thanks for all the help. I did a little looking around and found this picture, and my ross would look identical if it had a bolt and the rear sight it had. So I think you're right about it being a sporter. If that's the case I'll just get a sporter rear sight to keep it original, and they're probably cheaper than the ladder sights anyway. Plus I just found a bolt on ebay, so hopefully it'll be shooting soon. Do you know a good place to find a sporter rear sight or should I just keep an eye on ebay?
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#5 ·
p.s. to previous. Regarding the larger screw on the receiver's underside; the set screw I was referring to is the one located to the side of the receiver ring. As to the larger one that's flush with the receiver, I honestly don't know what it's for. Sorry for any confusion.
 
#11 ·
Regarding the larger screw on the receiver's underside; the set screw I was referring to is the one located to the side of the receiver ring. As to the larger one that's flush with the receiver, I honestly don't know what it's for. Sorry for any confusion.
I took another look at that bigger screw on the bottom of the receiver and it goes just on the end of the barrel inside the receiver. It almost looks like it is for the bolt lugs or something. The first picture is pretty blurry but you can see it on the inside of the receiver. Also it doesn't move in either direction if I try and loosen or tighten it, and it looks like the barrel would need to be removed for it to come out. Any ideas on what it could be for?
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#36 ·
Finally got my mk3 firing pin from numrich and turns out there are a few differences. The pins look pretty much the same but the mk3 pin is longer than the mk2 so the pin that holds the cocking piece to the pin is too far back. Also I think the taper on the end of the pin is different because I put it in the bolt body and the collar of the pin makes contact before the pin can go through the bolt face. This also might be because it looks like the tip of the mk3 pin is also broken. I could probably cut down the mk3 pin and make it work, but there's a guy on another forum that says he has a mk2 pin I can buy so I'll probably do that and return the mk3 pin to numrich.

Top pin is Mk2 bottom is Mk3
 
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