Screwdrivers for guns... what to use?

T

Teac

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
50   0   0
So it has always bothered me that 99% of all slotted screws on my guns have slots either too thin or too thick to fit normal slotted drivers and screws get mangled up pretty good when using the wrong driver.

Are there any good ways out of this? Make custom drivers? Are there gun screwdrivers?

Teac
 
Brownells has special screwdriver kits available in the popular sizes. I found a nice kit a few years ago that has a good selection of bits at Home Depot, it works for me most of the time. For a few of the very large slotted screws, I ground a couple of old screwdrivers for a proper fit.
 
Companies like Wheeler make kits with multiple width and thickness bits for gun screws. The shape makes a difference. An electrician / mechanic or household screw driver usually has a tapered tip - they often only contact the top edge of a screw's slot. Should be using dead flat (parallel) or even hollow ground screwdrivers on gun screws so that turning pressure is applied at the bottom of the screw slot, not at the top edge. You end up with many screwdrivers to be able to correctly fit each screw size - I believe Brownell's sells (or at least used to sell) a screwdriver "kit" just for a Winchester 94 - the four different sized screwdrivers required; also a set for Marlin 336 - the six sizes required.
 
Last edited:
I use a Weaver kit, available at Cabela's, or likely online. I added a brass punch set, a pick set, a CZ action screw bit, a small tube of loctite, and a toothbrush. Guys are always asking for it at gun shows. Yes, I know there are better kits available.

https://www.amazon.ca/Weaver-Deluxe-Gunsmith-Tool-Kit/dp/B004NC188O/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=weaver+gun+screwdriver+kit&qid=1573485812&sr=8-4

I shudder when I see a nice firearm with buggered screws.
 
Grace makes gunsmithing screwdrivers. I’ve heard mixed reviews like the tips break.

I haven’t purchased any yet but maybe someone else has some input.
 
The Wheeler set are very good, to a point, lots of bit sizes ,I think my set "had" 80 or 90 bits in it..."had" being an operative word here, they are very hard which makes them somewhat brittle when you come up against a tough screw...they don't twist or bend like a lot of cheaper bits...they just shatter/break. I have probably broke a dozen or so of the smallest bits( the ones we use the most in gun work) and so far haven't found a supplier that will replace them, Wheeler itself wont ship replacement bits to its customers , their web site tells you to find one of their retail dealers and purchase from them but I haven't found a retailer in Canada or the U.S. that stocks replacements.
 
fingers284 said:
The Wheeler set are very good, to a point, lots of bit sizes ,I think my set "had" 80 or 90 bits in it..."had" being an operative word here, they are very hard which makes them somewhat brittle when you come up against a tough screw...they don't twist or bend like a lot of cheaper bits...they just shatter/break. I have probably broke a dozen or so of the smallest bits( the ones we use the most in gun work) and so far haven't found a supplier that will replace them, Wheeler itself wont ship replacement bits to its customers , their web site tells you to find one of their retail dealers and purchase from them but I haven't found a retailer in Canada or the U.S. that stocks replacements.
Click to expand...

Funny, my Wheeler bits have been bending, but I haven't broke one yet.

Mostly the smaller, thinner bits that are bending.

As far as replacements, maybe check out Chapman Manufacturing. They list individual bits for sale on their site. They are not Wheeler bits, but if I'm not mistaken, they are the same driver size.

h ttps://chapmanmfg.com/collections/individual-parts
 
Back in 1970 I bought a about 6 or 8 various sized screwdrivers from Simpson Sears and ground them to fit specific heads... I still use these today. I also bought some 'bits' from Brownells. I also grind those to fit a particular screw. Both can be re heat treated if needed.
 
Often I find that an obscure-sized hollow ground slot is required. I buy packs of various sized Vermont bits for a hex driver then profile them with a Dremel to get a perfect custom fit. Takes only a minute or two with grinding/testing/grinding/retesting.
 
I've got the wheeler set plus what came with the torque driver. Lots of selection and has bits that fit when I was sure I wasn't going to have what I needed.

Had 2 snap and about 3 twist. It's rough on tools fighting with 100+ year old screws but you would sure rather bugger the tool instead of the gun.
 
Last edited:
I found the wheeler bits soft as $hit. The larger ones were ok, but the smaller ones would twist like a corkscrew
 
I have several of the grace screwdrivers. they are very nice and comfortable - several get used daily, most not often at all. They will bend if you abuse them but you can hammer them flat again, I have not broken any yet.

They also sell them in sets for specific guns - was speaking with them at one point for a "Winchester set" but nothing came out of that.
 
As stated above flat blade screwdrivers have to be hollow ground tips not regular tips. I use a set of insulated screwdrivers I acquired in my other trade got to love large industrial jobs as a electrician that have hollow ground tips the flat blades they are now only for gunsmithing if I were to have paid for them they wouldn't be cheap. If you don't have a set off good hollow ground flat tips get one they will literally pay for themselves just from removing screws that people have tried to remove with a regular screwdriver and damaged the head.
 
the grace ones are hollow ground. problem with them is that they don't sell them individually nor give any info on what sizes are in a set. sooooo they are a lot of guesswork.
 
I just got a set of these. Have not tried them yet, but have quite a few others, Grace, Wheeler, etc, but have never been completely satisfied. I think Wheeler was the best of the lot so far.

We'll see what these are like whenever I get a chance to use them.

Real Avid Smart Drive 90 Gunsmithing Driver Set

https: //www.chuckhawks.com/real_avid_driver_set.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom