Plug screws for Browing 1885

[Muskyhunter1]

I took the tang peep off my Browning 1885 and I want to purchase some plug screws to fill the holes (x2). In the process of trying to determine the size and thread right now.

Do any of the venders on our forum sell them or if not somewhere else in Canada?

Thanks

 

[Lodi]

Every gunsmith probably has a bunch of them.

 

[Potashminer]

Common modern size for sights and scope bases often #6-48 tpi or #8-40 tpi - I have no clue what was used in 1885 - and if made recently, off-shore, it might be a metric size thread. Good Luck! Let us know what you find out.

 

[boxhitch]

There was an ad in EE with someone selling various blanking screws in steel, brass and stainless, but cannot find it right now
Maybe someone remembers the seller?

 

[Muskyhunter1]

According to Marbles Sights it is a #10-32. I was EPPS the other day and the gunsmith said he didn't have that size. I will make a post on EE thanks.

Thanks for the feedback folks.

 

[Potashminer]

#10-32 is a fairly common machine screw size and thread - I do not know how handy you are - likely you can buy a pack of 6 or 10 machine screws at local hardware store - cut to length - cut slot and put a dab of cold blue on the end that will show.

 

[Longstud]

Take a black crayon and heat it with a lighter and drip the melting wax in the holes. Scraoe off excess with a popsickle stick or hardwood scraper then buff with a shop towel. Easy to remove when needed. Just an option

 

[257Wby]

Amazon has 10-32 set screws in hex or slotted if your local hardware doesn’t

 

[Muskyhunter1]

Thanks for the great ideas folks. I managed to source a couple from a very generous fellow forum member, so I am now good to go.

Cheers

 

[AP]

Take a black crayon and heat it with a lighter and drip the melting wax in the holes. Scraoe off excess with a popsickle stick or hardwood scraper then buff with a shop towel. Easy to remove when needed. Just an option

That's an excellent tip .. among others - the Leica M cameras used this method to seal a countersunk screw on the lens mount with a black waxy substance ... often they will also 'brand' it with a small letter 'L' ... it is one way they can see if the camera has been opened by a unlicensed repair facility..

 

[Canuck65]

It'll likely be 6-48 (or maybe even 8-40). Any gun shop, gunsmith, friends at your range, etc etc. will have a bunch lying around. You can buy them, but my guess is you'll find a couple for free once you start asking the right people.

For example, every time the gun shop in your town installs scope bases for someone, they remove 4 of them off the rifle. These usually end up in a ziplock bag or a drawer somewhere.

Good luck!