My first bubba job... Fixed!!!

G37

G37

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Talk about a snowball effect...

I am at the range shooting my new post-2005 Mini-30. I go to adjust the sights and notice that the all of the rear sight inernals are covered in surface rust; Wow! No problem I thought... as soon as I get home I will remove the entire rear sight for cleaning (To make the job easier :rolleyes:).

I get home... allen key in bolt retinaing entire sight assemply... and snap!
The top of the bolt which holds the rear sight assembly pops off. I go through all the motions, with no luck. I even broke out the propane torch just incase it was red-loctited in the factory (still doesn't budge.)

Now we go from bad to worse... I drill out the bit but now have a crappy looking hole - Hey, I got a tap and die set "It's cool!" I think. No problem as
I pop in the drill bit for a 8-32 tap and then go to town with the tap iteself - Snap! Now the tap is broken off inside the hole (nice and seized).

My world is crumbling fast at this point. I manage to get it out and now have a pretty large hole in the receiver where a small one used to be; needless to say the rear sight no longer attaches.

Anyone have a time machine?

So - How ****ed am I?
I am thinking of seeing if I can get a replacement receiver from Ruger; any guesses on cost?

Absolute worst case is I used scope only - but that upsets me thinking about it (Where's the crying Smily?)
 
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G37 said:
Talk about a snowball effect...

I am at the range shooting my new post-2005 Mini-30. I go to adjust the sights and notice that the all of the rear sight inernals are covered in surface rust; Wow! No problem I thought... as soon as I get home I will remove the entire rear sight for cleaning (To make the job easier :rolleyes:).

I get home... allen key in bolt retinaing entire sight assemply... and snap!
The top of the bolt which holds the rear sight assembly pops off. I go through all the motions, with no luck. I even broke out the propane torch just incase it was red-loctited in the factory (still doesn't budge.)

Now we go from bad to worse... I drill out the bit but now have a crappy looking hole - Hey, I got a tap and die set "It's cool!" I think. No problem as
I pop in the drill bit for a 8-32 tap and then go to town with the tap iteself - Snap! Now the tap is broken off inside the hole (nice and seized).

My world is crumbling fast at this point. I manage to get it out and now have a pretty large hole in the receiver where a small one used to be; needless to say the rear sight no longer attaches.

Anyone have a time machine?

So - How ****ed am I?
I am thinking of seeing if I can get a replacement receiver from Ruger; any guesses on cost?

Absolute worst case is I used scope only - but that upsets me thinking about it (Where's the crying Smily?)
Click to expand...
is the hole all the way through the reciver or is it a blind hole ?
if its a blind hole you can have someone fill weld it *depending on the reciver metal* and just re drill the correct size hole and re tap or use a cold weld to fill the hole and again re drill and tap
 
There is for larger holes, a device called a heli coil. Don't know if they make 'em for that small a hole, but it would be nice, they work well.
You drill and tap the hole to a much larger size, then screw in the 'coil' of new threads, and stake them in place, with the supplied stakes.
Another admittedly bubba option, is to drill and tap for a much larger screw, loctite that screw in place, then drill and tap that, to the size you need. Take care that the large screw, is not too hard, or it won't drill worth a $hit.
Failing that, i think you will either have to fill the hole, or go with a larger screw size.

Have you considered your local gunsmith? :D
 
I would thread it, set in a plug screw, dress it off to match the original surface, then drill and tap for the correct size. You might want to have a gunsmith do it, to avoid further frustration.
Ruger doesn't change receivers, they supply a new receiver/barrel. Don't know if the Cdn. service centre can do this.
 
tiriaq said:
I would thread it, set in a plug screw, dress it off to match the original surface, then drill and tap for the correct size. You might want to have a gunsmith do it, to avoid further frustration.
Ruger doesn't change receivers, they supply a new receiver/barrel. Don't know if the Cdn. service centre can do this.
Click to expand...


This is the best fix I think as well....
 
martinbns said:
What about epoxying the rear site in place, it wouldn't be adjustable anymore but it could work.
Click to expand...

I think he's trying to fix an honest misteak.....one learns from these misteaks, but bubbaing it even more isn't better, it's worse....I feel epoxying it in place would definitely be a bubba job though.....fix it right, plug the hole with a plug screw, re-drill and re-tap....a proper solid fix....or have a 'smith do it if you are not comfy doing it yourself...
 
Before you do anything else, the broken tap has to be removed. Don't try and weld it in or drill trough it, you never will. I would take it in to a machine shop at this point, they might have some ideas.

Edit: I do not proof read enough!
 
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It's now sitting over at 'BitsOfPieces' in Delta, BC - Very good guy, very knowledgable and excellent communication. I have no doubt the problem will be fixed :D

I will post results when I get it back.
 
You will need a carbide die drill to remove the tap. or a edm machine, or a rose bit to cut around the tap (sort of a minature hole saw). Most taps these days are h.s.s. , and hard to remove. Brownells sells and recomends carbon steel taps for gunwork, they don't last as long, but they are brittle enough to break into pieces when you bust one off. H.s.s. taps just deform and get worse.

Most guns are made of hard ,springy steel. I always make it a rule to use a new carbon steel tap on firearms, even if I have to wait for it to arrive. Brownells is the only place I know of that sells carbon steel taps,
 
Al Flipo said:
It’s like dating women, you come to your senses eventually.
;)
Click to expand...

And what? Start dating dudes?

Not really my thing, but hey - you do what you want :)


Back on topic - I find that when using HSS taps, you have to be very VERY careful. 1/2 turn in, 1/4 turn out. Use lots of oil. Make sure the hole is drilled PERFECTLY smooth.

I broke a tap off once, but got lucky and was able to shatter it with a center punch, then thread out the remaining bits
 
The problem is now being handled by someone else (i.e. "BitsOfPieces") - I can hardly wait to get it back.

I am keeping my fingers crossed it will still be as good as factory - maybe even better since I will be able to remove the bolt ;); I should have taken before pics (I will post the after pics).
 
It's done!
I got it back today... nice clean job; my Bubba isn't a bubba anymore ;)

BitsOfPieces was great... I was walked through the procedure of what would be attemtped to correct the problem. Welding was a last resort, luckily for me the first plan of attack was successful; a Heli-Coil. The new spring-steel threads look great, I got home and torqued the rear sight on at 20in-lbs with zero problems - Very secure (oh happy day!).

I've learned too many things from this experience with one of the most interesting things being that Ruger makes steel that is obscenely hard.

Anyway, I am happy and satisfied that my rifle is presentable/usable again :D
Again, my thanks goes out to 'BitsOfPieces'.
 
Helicoils have saved my ass on numerous occasions. :)

My old dirtbike had a helicoil in the cylinder head to hold the spark plug in place :eek: (stripped it out). Just have to be REAL careful not to twist the coil into the cylinder when I change plugs
 
Sounds like my new TOZ-78, dad brings a brand new bipod, and I can't undo the $#@%# sling swivel screw so I can install it. 6 months later 3 different guys tried (just in case it was me) and no one was able to undo it, I can remove the swivel assembly fine, but the screw that holds the swivel itself just won't budge. In one of my less glorious moments I decided to try to heat it up to see if that would help. Out comes the butane torch, in an ashtray the swivel assembly goes, I start heating it up and the damned ashtray shatters on me ! As a side note I now have a perfectly de-blued swivel assembly, one less ashtray and a paperweight bipod ...
 
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