Dovetail sight installation

[Hoser1268]

Hey guys,
Not sure if I am in the right thread (my apology's) I am installing a new Williams fire sight on a investarms Hawkens. The front sight is dovetail and was loose going in. I shimmed it with a feeler gauge and it is nice and tight but there is a space between the front and rear of the sight between the sight and barrel. Any suggestions about what I can do the fill in the gap? It is solid but looks ridiculous. About a 32nd gap. Not sure if they make something.
Thanks, Rob...

 

[Grimord]

If I am not mistaken, the Invest Arms/Lyman rifles have dovetails of .360 wide. Are you sure you purchased the right size sight?

 

[Hoser1268]

Yes, I ordered it straight from Williams it says Cabela's Hawkins right on the package.

 

[bud in pa]

I'd send it back with a picture and explanation of why. Or you could try to file the dovetail deeper.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Fileing would be counterproductive, a shim on the angled side of the dovetail would lower the sight but sending it back with a photo and explaination sounds to me the best route.

 

[Livbucks]

Lyman makes a better version I think.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....et-for-lyman-and-other-european-manufactured)

 

[Hoser1268]

I'm going to give Williams a call and see what they have to say. It's tight but I don't like how it looks at all.

 

[smo]

Bucks,

I just read the only review on the Lyman sight, it seems it doesn’t fit very well either.....

Hoser,

If you took a little metal off the bottom of the new sight, wouldn’t that allow the sight too mate with the barrel?

Still the best solution would be send it back, however I’m not sure you will find one that fits without some adjustments .

I just removed the front sight from my Longrifle last night and I’m faced with a similar issue.

I’m in the process of fabricating a new base/dovetail for a TC post type front sight for the rifle.
I’ve never gotten comfortable using a Patridge style sight.

 

[Livbucks]

Bucs,

I just read the only review on the Lyman sight, it seems it doesn’t fit very well either.....

Hoser,

If you took a little metal off the bottom of the new sight, wouldn’t that allow the sight too mate with the barrel?

Still the best solution would be send it back, however I’m not sure you will find one that fits without some adjustments .

I just removed the front sight from my Longrifle last night and I’m faced with a similar issue.

I’m in the process of fabricating a new base/dovetail for a TC post type front sight for the rifle.
I’ve never gotten comfortable using a Patridge style sight.

That review was from an installation on an older CVA. Investarms are from Italy and CVA and Traditions are from Spain.

 

[smo]

Gotcha’ Thanks for pointing that out .

 

[nhmoose]

Get rid of the bottom shim and see if the sight goes down deeper. It will be loose but may be sitting on the barrel then shim the angled sides.

 

[Hoser1268]

Well, I just got off the phone with Williams. According to them investarms at some point changed the dovetail 2 or 3/8 instead of the metric it originally was. I asked if I could send the front side back and get a replacement and the guy said no I have to buy it. I'm done with Williams. I always love their sites but that's pretty shity customer service.

 

[smo]

Peening / Closing the top edge of the dovetail on the barrel may be an easier fix instead of trying too shim the angled sides... just a thought .
I would think that would solve the issue as well.

 

[Hoser1268]

Don't mind my words being wrong I'm doing speech to text and it sucks on my phone

 

[Livbucks]

Or hammer the sides of the sight to squash it upward? Make sense?

 

[smo]

Lyman makes a better version I think.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....et-for-lyman-and-other-european-manufactured)

That review was from an installation on an older CVA. Investarms are from Italy and CVA and Traditions are from Spain.

Well, I just got off the phone with Williams. According to them investarms at some point changed the dovetail 2 or 3/8 instead of the metric it originally was. I asked if I could send the front side back and get a replacement and the guy said no I have to buy it. I'm done with Williams. I always love their sites but that's pretty shity customer service.

Wow! That’s not good for business.
Maybe they figure the Muzzleloading crowd is a small minority in the big picture, I guess they think we don’t own anything other than M/L ....

I’ve never heard anything , anywhere that the Italian based Investarms changed their dovetails from a metric measurement.

 

[lyman54]

I put a Lyman front globe sight on my Zouave rifle with JB WELD. Looks alright and is very strong seems straight to me. I have an adjustable vernier tang sight on back so that should compensate if it isn't perfect. I hope, been to cold to try it.

 

[Hoser1268]

I put a Lyman front globe sight on my Zouave rifle with JB WELD. Looks alright and is very strong seems straight to me. I have an adjustable vernier tang sight on back so that should compensate if it isn't perfect. I hope, been to cold to try it.

I was thinking about using J-B Weld to fill it in but I have to make sure the sight height is okay first. Wants that song I'll be there forever

 

[M. De Land]

Hey guys,
Not sure if I am in the right thread (my apology's) I am installing a new Williams fire sight on a investarms Hawkens. The front sight is dovetail and was loose going in. I shimmed it with a feeler gauge and it is nice and tight but there is a space between the front and rear of the sight between the sight and barrel. Any suggestions about what I can do the fill in the gap? It is solid but looks ridiculous. About a 32nd gap. Not sure if they make something.
Thanks, Rob...View attachment 3834

That's a pretty large gap Rob but what I like to do when a gap shows up in one of my occasional dovetail fits is to use modeling clay as a dam and fill the gap from the other side with blue loc-tite, wipe off excess and let it set up. It will cure almost dark and is usually hard to detect when dry.
The loc-tite is fluid enough to run under pretty small gaps but still stiff enough to fill them. This will hold the sight firmly and still allow it to be quite easily moved/removed with out destroying it.
I think JB is too much of a good thing if the sight needs removed or adjusted for windage.
I really hate to see any light under a dovetail or sight shoulder as well.

 

[Hoser1268]

That's a pretty large gap Rob but what I like to do when a gap shows up in one of my occasional dovetail fits is to use modeling clay as a dam and fill the gap from the other side with blue loc-tite, wipe off excess and let it set up. It will cure almost dark and is usually hard to detect when dry.
The loc-tite is fluid enough to run under pretty small gaps but still stiff enough to fill them. This will hold the sight firmly and still allow it to be quite easily moved/removed with out destroying it.
I think JB is too much of a good thing if the sight needs removed or adjusted for windage.
I really hate to see any light under a dovetail or sight shoulder as well.

That's actually a great idea. I think I'll try that. Thanks.