Lee Enfield trigger guard rear screw size

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mmatt

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I am taking my newly acquired #5 apart for a good cleaning and proceeded to completely strip the head on the rear screw of the trigger guard.

So I drilled it out. :redface: What else could I do...? :confused: (don't worry, I have a spare parts rifle that I can get another screw from)

Problem is, the screw was so tight or rusted or fused... whatever... that I cannot continue to drill or else I will lose the original threads in the receiver.

Can anyone tell me what size tap I need so I can clean-out / re-thread it to the proper size?

Thanks!
 
The Lee Enfield uses BSW threads, British standard Whitworth. You need to use and extractor or easy out. You can only retap once the old screw is out, otherwise your tap will not go straight and will deviate from the original thread.

there's a fellow selling taps & dies on e-bay, $100 per set but if you were clever go to a mill supply store.
 
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here's and extractor.

screw_extrs.jpg


Put the correct sized extractro in the hole, give it a sharpe tap with a hammer to set it, then you unscrew the extractor and it digs into the screw grabbing and pulling it out resulting in the old screw unscrewing from the hole.
 
Well, if you can manage to get the screw out I have a bunch of them and can send you one. I am assuming you loosened the front guard screw first when you tried to remove the rear one. The trigger guard can put pressure on the rear screw making it difficult to remove if the front one is not loose.
 
Pblatzz said:
The Lee Enfield uses BSW threads, British standard Whitworth. I am trying to find out which thread the king screw is.

You need to use and extractor or easy out. You can only retap once the old screw is out, otherwise your tap will not go straight and will deviate from the original thread.

there's a fellow selling taps & dies on e-bay, $100 per set but if you were clever go to a mill supply store.
Click to expand...

It's very similar to 1/4"X28 UNC, ( I chased out my Lithgow to that size :redface: and put in a high grade bolt that I machined the head of to fit. Did I make a booboo? :p
 
Yeah, the front screw was already out. It (the rear one) must have never ever been removed since it was installed by the factory assembler... I might not even be able to get the rest of it out. It's seized in there pretty good. :( I'm obviously going to try, but if I can't without FUBARing the receiver hole, how mad at me would you guys be if I drilled and tapped it one size bigger? :redface:
 
mmatt said:
Yeah, the front screw was already out. It (the rear one) must have never ever been removed since it was installed by the factory assembler... I might not even be able to get the rest of it out. It's seized in there pretty good. :( I'm obviously going to try, but if I can't without FUBARing the receiver hole, how mad at me would you guys be if I drilled and tapped it one size bigger? :redface:
Click to expand...


:runaway: :runaway: Tar and feathers :D

I don't know how you managed to get into this fix, but you should be able to get the scew out without damaging the reciever.

oh and :p buy some good screwdrivers :D
 
mmatt said:
Yeah, the front screw was already out. It (the rear one) must have never ever been removed since it was installed by the factory assembler... I might not even be able to get the rest of it out. It's seized in there pretty good. :( I'm obviously going to try, but if I can't without FUBARing the receiver hole, how mad at me would you guys be if I drilled and tapped it one size bigger? :redface:
Click to expand...

Try some very localized heat?
 
Scott Stonehill in Evans, Georgia runs "Evans Obsolete Screws" and will have or make what you need. A very nice fellow to deal with, too.

ht tp://www.customscrewsandmore.com/
 
Thanks guys, for all the help and suggestions.

Like I said earlier, I had a spare screw and managed to clear a few threads by picking away at it with a fine punch. I used the spare screw to slowly and carefully push the remains of the old screw out. It wasn't easy, but I managed to do it with little to no damage to the original threads.

Unfortunately I pretty much destroyed the slot on the spare screw. :rolleyes: I either need new screwdrivers or need to learn how to use them. :) The spare screw is in for now until I find a replacement but it ain't pretty. At least the rifle is functional again.

Thanks again guys.
 
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