Stripped ring screws

Steamwhistle

Steamwhistle

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So I was going to change the rings on my Rem 700 and two of the screws wouldn't budge. I guess I must have tightened them down to hard.

The problem is the hex head stripped the screw right out, now its a circle. then some idiot had the great idea to drill them out. Well I don't have a drill press and I'm getting nowhere.

Any ideas? Or am I going to have to go to a gunsmith?
 
Its the screws that hold the rings together. They are 1" millet rings. The only thing that worries me is my scope is being held hostage so I'm worried about damaging it. I can take the rings off of the base, just can't get the rings apart.

Right now I don't care about the rings, I'm upgrading anyway.
 
well if your don t care for the rings very careful use of a hacksaw would be quickest. I ve removed stripped screws in other applications always a pain.
 
I have done it with a drill press, maybe a hand drill could work....turn the rings to the bottom side and using a say.. 1/8 inch bit, drill into the bottom of each screw. They will likely begin to back out if you can do it steady.

Or - use a Torx screw driver bit that fits really tight into the drilled out hole in the screw head. Find one that you may have to tap into with a small hammer. That gives you better grip and torque
 
I'll try the torx method tomorrow morning and see if I get anywhere. Otherwise I'll be rummaging through the shed for my hacksaw. I'll post a picture if anyone wants to see a "how to not DIY".
 
Well I went out and bought a bit system for removing stripped screws. Still couldn't get them to budge even the slightest, heat has no effect. In a fit of rage I went at it with the hacksaw. Funny thing is I can see the whole screw. . . .still won't give! It's as if it's one solid block of metal. I'm beginning to think I didn't need to upgrade lol. Anyway I don't really want to go at it with the hacksaw anymore, all I'm doing is playing with fire that i'll pull the teeth across the scope.
 
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These are some tough rings. Nothing bad to say about them, only wanted to change them out for ones with a low profile to help my cheek-weld. I hope someone can get a few laughs out of my predicament. Maybe someone else thinking about drilling out your stripped rings will think twice.

DON'T. Just take a second and go get one of those stripped screw kits. I managed to get one of the stripped screws out in 10 seconds doing this, but the one I had tried to drill out was a lost cause and my scope now has a very small paint nick where I came across her with the hacksaw.

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It worked but I meant to center the hacksaw blade in the screw and make a slot for a Phillips screwdriver. Done it once worked like a charm, BTW you must have been physically and mentally exhausted after that ordeal. LOL
 
I've been in this situation quite a few times...usually just find a square driver bit slightly larger than the mess I've made, gently hammer it in, attach driver and back it out.
 
Next time, drill the head off the screw from the top, and remove the upper half of the ring.

Then apply some penetrating solvent, such as KROIL, Liquid Wrench, etc., to the stub of the screw that is left protruding out of the bottom half, and let it soak for half an hour.

Heat the ring up just a bit, and remove the screw with pliers or small vice grip.

Buy new screws for the rings.

Ted
 
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