Article On Springfield 03A3 Rear Sight Removal and Replacement

[Aussie48]

I would like to do the same modification to my 1903A3 as per the article by Bob S, my questions are:

Does anyone know the model of Williams sight that was used, and
Does the receiver have to be drilled and tapped (if that's the case I won't be doing it)

Regards

Richard

Information

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[supercub]

If you're talking about the Williams peep that goes on the bridge, no, you don't have to do any tapping. It secures to the bridge with a set screw just like the earlier A3's. The part number/model is WGRS. Here's one listed on fleabay;

Williams WGRS Receiver Peep Sight 03 A3 1903 A3 Springfield | eBay

I have one and they work well other than you may be restricted in disc size due to clearance on the sight itself.

Kurt

[Aussie48]

Thanks very much mate, but as usual they might not (usually won't) ship to Australia. Or if they do it is by Express International Post and costs more than the item is worth. Have to get onto Numrich and buy a second base anyway which will cost an arm and a leg as we have to pay $45 for the export permit on top of the cost of the part, so $1 screw cost, plus export permit 46, plus international Express Postage of $38 makes it an expensive screw.

Cheers

Dick

[Aussie48]

Had a reply from Bill S the talented man who wrote the article looks like it was a 5D-Jems sight, now I just have to work out how to get one here in Australia along with a rear sight base. No drilling on the receiver required just the spare rear sight base if anyone else is interested in this upgrade.

[supercub]

I'm missing something here. A 5D-Jems sight is like a Lyman and the base is fixed to the side of the receiver by drilling and tapping.

Kurt

[Aussie48]

I don't know Kurt or clueless some might say. To get a Williams sight here I will have to go direct to the Williams people. I thought an FP-A3 or FP-A3-TK would do the trick as they are advertised as for an 03/A3 but hard to tell from this side of the pond as their site has very few pictures and no dimensions.
Any hints tips appreciated.

Richard

[supercub]

If your looking for a sight that will replace the somewhat course original, you don't have a lot of choices. I mentioned the only Williams sight I know of and gave a link. All those you have mentioned are drill and tape receiver type like a Lyman 48 etal. The only benefit to the Williams sight I mentioned is the ability to change apatures that work better for you. The adj are a little finer but are screw set vs knob. Why no one has come up with a bridge mounted knob adjustable for windage and elevation puzzles me. Gary Bush posted pictures on the Culver site of the known replacement dovetail sights for the 03A3. Do a search on that sight for that thread.

Kurt

[Aussie48]

Thanks Kurt will have a look on Culver and see what information I can gleen

Cheers

Richard

[Aussie48]

Hi Kurt,

Yes I checked out the link you gave me but didn't think I would get enough elevation and on visiting the Williams site they don't appear to make that model any more.

Couldn't find the Culver site but looking at the photos in more depth I think I have worked out what he has done. The article itself is merely to show how to remove the sight and base nothing more.

I believe he has used a Williams FP-A3 sight which would normally be drilled and tapped by the look of it to the right hand side of the receiver (I have never seen one so have had to make some assumptions). Instead he has used another rear sight base, flattened it and drilled 1 or 2 holes in the top of the sight (they may already be there) and drilled and tapped the flattened base and used that to mount the FP-A3 sight to the base. The modified base is fixed to the bridge exactly as per the original sight by the screw located on the right side of the sight base and the FP-A3 screwed onto the base.

Do you think I have worked it out? If you think I'm right I have found a new FP-A3 sight her in Australia on EBAY and instead of trying to get a spare sight base from Sarco or Numrich will mill the dovetail into a piece of flat Marine grade Aluminium, might make a few while I have my mill set up in case anyone else here wants one. Yours and Peter Laidlers thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Richard

[supercub]

I think I have a visual on what your "aiming for". Basically your saying you could make an L shaped (upside down) mount that would dovetail onto the original base. Then modify the Williams side mount to attach to that. Probably could be done. You would most likely need to play with the front blade heights.
I couldn't find the old Gary Bush post but they have just moved and upgraded that site so the archives only go back a couple years. I'm out of town so I don't have access to my links and such. Back home this weekend.

Kurt