Williams Precision Fiber Optic Globe - Fitment Issues?

sb2017 · Aug 30, 2022

I bought one of these after seeing a thread about it a few weeks ago and am really excited about it, but ran into an issue last night when I went to swap the sights out. It seems that the sights have a lower profile where the screw holes are than the stock sights. When I went to put the new sights on, I maxed out the depth of the screws and the sights (both ends) were still loose enough to wiggle. Not tight at all. I tried using the stock screws with the new sights as well and it didn't fix anything.

I cut shims out of an aluminum can and was able to get the sights mounted tight, but it took three shims on each end in order to avoid bottoming the screw out before getting them tight. Everything looks straight and tight, and the sights look great to look through when I hold it up, but I just wanted to ask a few questions on here and hopefully get some feedback from the guys on here who definitely know a lot more about this than I do.

1) Has anyone else dealt with this with this new sight? Did you find a fix other than shims? I considered shorter screws, but don't see anything like that on William's website and haven't been able to reach them on the phone today.

2) For those of you that have used shims on your sights, is three layers of the soda can aluminum too much? I am a little worried that shimming up that high off of the barrel might cause some alignment issues.

3) When using aluminum shims, do I need to put any adhesive or lubricant between the layers? I didn't use anything when I first installed the sights because I didn't want to make anything slippery, and I was worried about expansion with glue. I just want to make sure I'm not doing something negligent that will set me up for failure in the next few weeks, whether it's an inaccurate rifle or damage to the barrel/sights.

Any input is appreciated, thank you.

elkantlers · Aug 30, 2022

Go shoot the Muzzleloader and you will know right away if it's going to work.

I put two shims under the rear sight on a TC pro hunter for a friend and there has been no issues. As long as everything is tight you should be OK.

txhunter58 · Aug 30, 2022

Should be able to go to any gunsmith and pick up some shorter screws. That said, I agree you should be OK with shims. But shouldn’t need them. If you have time I would get shorter screws. I only like shims if I need to raise the sight. Not to snug it up.

What make and model of gun? Was it a match with Williams description of which guns it fits? Curvature of the barrel fit snug?

diablo · Aug 30, 2022

Mine fit perfectly on a White and on an Omega. Obviously there are any number of solutions.

Buy shorter screws, shim the sight like you did, make the screws shorter with a file, bed it higher with Devon or JB Weld or put a small shim (washer) under the head of the screw to raise it up.

Personally, I’d shorten the screw.

sb2017 · Aug 30, 2022

Thank you both for the input, I plan on shooting later today or tomorrow.

Txhunter, I am shooting a CVA Accura MRX. Yes, I made sure to order the model that fit my rifle and I made sure that I was sent the proper item number.

Since the original post, I actually got a call back from a very helpful guy at Williams. He said since it's happening at both ends of my barrel, and since we are sure the correct part was ordered/sent, he thinks it's an issue with the the threads on my specific barrel. But he is sending me several options for screws to try.

txhunter58 · Aug 30, 2022

As an aside, the replacement green fiber optic piece is back in stock

Williams™ Western Precision Muzzleloading Sight Set - Fiber Optic Insert - Green - 630158

Williams® Western Precision Muzzleloading Fiber Optic Sight Insert - 630158 - Fits all Williams Western Precision Globe Sights! Best Prices, Fast Shipping & Expert Advice!

muzzle-loaders.com

deadibob · Aug 31, 2022

It's probably not a bad idea to get ahead of the curve and order these now before everyone is scrambling for them next year once Utah eliminates scopes.?

MtnHillbilly · Sep 19, 2022

I had similar problems. Williams didn't help or respond.
My sight came with plenty of screws none of which fit my Traditions Pursuit. I paid to have the sight mounted and the gunsmith drilled new hole for front sight. come to find out I was shooting 4" high with the rear maxed out so I had to shim and I too used 3 layers of beer can aluminum and still was shooting high but tolerable. also began having consistency issues after shimming so I'm guessing glue of sorts is needed? with the sight being only one screw holding it in place I think it lends itself to accuracy issues especially once the barrel heats up????

txhunter58 · Sep 19, 2022

Did you buy only the front sight? The old rear peep is def too short to work with the front without shimming.

I have never had an issue with a round barrel having issues with the front sight changing after barrel heats up. If it’s tight, shouldn’t be able to shift. No glue should be needed on the front sight or with the shims. Unless you mean locktite on the screws

MtnHillbilly · Sep 19, 2022

txhunter58 said:
Did you buy only the front sight? The old rear peep is def too short to work with the front without shimming.

I have never had an issue with a round barrel having issues with the front sight changing after barrel heats up. If it’s tight, shouldn’t be able to shift. No glue should be needed on the front sight or with the shims. Unless you mean locktite on the screws

I bought front and rear. I lock tightened the screw and doesn't seem to move at all when I try like hell. I might take it all apart and reship now that season is over? hopefully I can just go back to archery after a year off? but it needs to be remedied regardless.

diablo · Sep 19, 2022

I like to bed most of my sights and rails with a little Marine Tex or JB Weld and Loctite the screw. No issues.

txhunter58 · Sep 19, 2022

After re-reading your post I am confused. Normally when front sight is as tall as the globe, the problem is shooting too low. So you maxed out the rear sight on the LOW end and you were still too high so you shimmed the front sight?

txhunter58 · Sep 24, 2022

Would really like to know exactly which way the peep maxed out (up or down) and what piece you shimmed

earlyriser · Oct 16, 2022

Hello,
Does anyone have a picture of this sight mounted and possibly what the fiber optic looks like?

txhunter58 · Oct 16, 2022

Don’t have it mounted yet but here is the fiberoptic insert. The black is all plastic.

earlyriser · Oct 16, 2022

Thank you sir!

diablo · Oct 16, 2022

earlyriser · Oct 16, 2022

Thank you as well Diablo

yotebuster17 · Oct 17, 2022

diablo said:
View attachment 90283

Any idea roughly what MOA that fiber optic ends up as? I’ve got the Lee shaver inserts in mine and anything with a dot seems too big for me. I love the fine wire crosshair but in low light it doesn’t show up as good as I’d hope.

txhunter58 · Oct 17, 2022

I am sure Diablo can tell you the MOA, but I can tell you it is pretty fine of a bead. Any smaller and it would prob be very fragile.

I do like a small front sight. But using the 6 o’clock hold means you don’t have to use a tiny bead

HntHrdr · Oct 17, 2022

I grab one of these a few days ago. I was reading you can combine the fiber optic with the crosshairs reticles to make an illuminated crosshair of sorts I will see if that can be done and report back

earlyriser · Oct 18, 2022

This is what I heard back from them when asking about the fiber optic sight.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, 676584 is the part number, and that one should fit on your rifle. That particular model comes with 6 different reticle inserts, however, the fiber optic insert is not one of them. If you want the fiber optic version check out the link below (please note the fiber optic version does not come with the 6 other reticle inserts). Please let me know if there is anything else that I can assist you with and have a great day.

https://muzzleloaders.com/collections/all/products/williams-western-precision-muzzleloading-sight-set-fiber-optic-cva-traditions-t-c-knight-604816

HntHrdr · Oct 21, 2022

Finally got around to tinkering a bit with the sights, I doubled up a crosshair with the red fiber optic, I also removed my rear peep and put on a ghost ring with green fiber optic that they sell. With a infant at home I might get to shoot it a year from now but that will really determine if it works, it looks great, good vis in sunlight and shade

txhunter58 · Oct 21, 2022

Did you load the fiberoptic in the original front globe or load the crosshairs in the fiberoptic globe?

HntHrdr · Oct 21, 2022

I loaded the cross hair in the fiber optic globe. I put the fiber optic in first and then the cross hair. I like the fiber optic ghost ring, but I’ll have to try it with the regular peep as well

diablo · Oct 25, 2022

Looks good. May have to mess around with different combos myself. Thanks for sharing!

MtnHillbilly · Nov 5, 2022

txhunter58 said:
Would really like to know exactly which way the peep maxed out (up or down) and what piece you shimmed

Peep maxed out on the low end and was still shooting 2” high at 100 yards and I shimmed the globe

roadrunner · Nov 5, 2022

No need to shim. A few minutes with a fine tooth mill file on the bottom of the screw to shorten it and you're in business.

Have had to do this a few times in the past.

txhunter58 · Nov 5, 2022

MtnHillbilly said:
Peep maxed out on the low end and was still shooting 2” high at 100 yards and I shimmed the globe

I suspect you weren’t using the 6 O’clock hold?

MtnHillbilly · Nov 5, 2022

txhunter58 said:
I suspect you weren’t using the 6 O’clock hold?

Using a 2” orange dot target I put crosshairs on the dot. No 6oclock hold possible

txhunter58 · Nov 6, 2022

Ah. Hnthdr is the only one who mentioned using the crosshair. I assumed you were just using the fiberoptic front sight as it comes. Didn’t understand that you were using a crosshair set up.

Did you ever get the problem resolved?

MtnHillbilly · Nov 11, 2022

txhunter58 said:
Ah. Hnthdr is the only one who mentioned using the crosshair. I assumed you were just using the fiberoptic front sight as it comes. Didn’t understand that you were using a crosshair set up.

Did you ever get the problem resolved?

I got to a point where I was comfortable enough with my 100 group in order to go hunt, but also not satisfied with the set up.
if I get a chance to Muzzy hunt again I'll likely change set up or just remount differently? I might even go back to rear peep and fiber optic front and see hoe I shoot then? I was having horrible irregularities once I shimmed the front globe that I didn't have prior. basically I went fro m 2"group at 50 to 5" group at 50.
at 100 I was just hitting all shots in paper plate before I went hunting. Unfortunately I never got a shot at a bull .

Lvs2hunt1 · Jul 11, 2023

HntHrdr said:
Finally got around to tinkering a bit with the sights, I doubled up a crosshair with the red fiber optic, I also removed my rear peep and put on a ghost ring with green fiber optic that they sell. With a infant at home I might get to shoot it a year from now but that will really determine if it works, it looks great, good vis in sunlight and shade

View attachment 90717

View attachment 90718

I like that setup where you combined the crosshair insert with the FOS sight. I'm gonna experiment with my Accura V2 and MR-X and see how it shoots. I will keep the stock rear peep sight on, though. Are you finding that the FOS covers too much of the target, say at 100 yds.?

txhunter58 · Jul 11, 2023

For me, yes. That is why I use the 6 O’clock hold

HntHrdr · Jul 11, 2023

Lvs2hunt1 said:
I like that setup where you combined the crosshair insert with the FOS sight. I'm gonna experiment with my Accura V2 and MR-X and see how it shoots. I will keep the stock rear peep sight on, though. Are you finding that the FOS covers too much of the target, say at 100 yds.?

I have been slammed and will spend real time sighting in at the end of July. I will let you know. I was messing with it the other day in the woods at dusk and I am super pleased with the FOS, it was dark stormy and a few minutes after sunset and still had a sharp sight picture. I’ll let you know how I feel about it at 100, if I can remember to get on. So far just trying to mess with my powder and bullet to get a good group at 50

Lvs2hunt1 · Jul 11, 2023

HntHrdr said:
I have been slammed and will spend real time sighting in at the end of July. I will let you know. I was messing with it the other day in the woods at dusk and I am super pleased with the FOS, it was dark stormy and a few minutes after sunset and still had a sharp sight picture. I’ll let you know how I feel about it at 100, if I can remember to get on. So far just trying to mess with my powder and bullet to get a good group at 50

Great, keep us informed on your future results at 50-100 yds. with the Williams FOS-crosshair setup. Once I get the transmission fixed on the old F-150 I'll be hitting the range as well and report back.