Scope base screw stuck

[mrb1982]

Was installing some lightweight Talley one piece mounts tonight. I am on to tightening the last screw. The screw wasn't even tight yet, and next thing you know it, it twists off. Seems kind of odd really. Now I have a stuck screw in my gun. It sticks up between 1/8-1/4 inch. I tried to get it twisted out with a vice grips vertically but couldn't get it. I do have some blue lock tite on the threads also.

One thing I thought about was creating a slot on top of the exhisting screw and trying to get it out with a screwdriver. Seems like a good way to mar everything up though.

Probably best to just take it to a smith and see what they can do I am guessing. Anybody got any idea what a smith would generally charge to get it out of there for me. Thanks for any help ahead of time, I wasn't able to find the answers I was looking for while searching.

 

[NW Hunter]

This happened to me once a couple of years ago. My gunsmith charged me $60 to remove. I watched him use a drill press to cut out small pieces of the screw near the threads. Once he cleared enough material out, he was able to back it out using a small hammer,a punch and jewelers glasses.

 

[mrb1982]

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured. That isn't too bad. I am gonna try one thing before it is all said and done and then I will take it in to him. I am trying to figure out what went wrong. I have narrowed it down to either they gave me a screw that was too long(the other 3 were just fine), or it was a bad screw.

I am gonna try one thing before I talk to a smith. I am gonna put a slot in the end of the screw, and then try to turn it out with a screw driver, but I am not herendously optimistic. We'll see I guess.

 

[Trickymissfit]

goto the hardware store and buy a soldering iron (one of the hotter ones). Clamp the gun in a vise, and put the tip of the soldering iron on the remaining part of the screw, and get it hot (about 250 degrees). Attach the vise grips and try to work the screw back out. If you heat the screw with the vise grips attached it will take forever to heat the screw. I wouldn't use a pencil torch on the screw as it will mar the finish of the rifle (assuming it's blued). When you got back together use Loctite 222 or purple, as that's made for small screws and will hold just as well. 242 (or blue) is made for screws 1/4" and larger. I would run a tap thru the hole to clean out any residue and also cleam up any part of the threads that have gone bad.
gary

 

[mrb1982]

goto the hardware store and buy a soldering iron (one of the hotter ones). Clamp the gun in a vise, and put the tip of the soldering iron on the remaining part of the screw, and get it hot (about 250 degrees). Attach the vise grips and try to work the screw back out. If you heat the screw with the vise grips attached it will take forever to heat the screw. I wouldn't use a pencil torch on the screw as it will mar the finish of the rifle (assuming it's blued). When you got back together use Loctite 222 or purple, as that's made for small screws and will hold just as well. 242 (or blue) is made for screws 1/4" and larger. I would run a tap thru the hole to clean out any residue and also cleam up any part of the threads that have gone bad.
gary

Cool, thanks. I will have to give that a whirl also. I just want to try to do whatever I can to avoid having to take it somewhere if I can, even though I know that is probably the "safest" thing to do. I kinda like to do things myself and learn things, preferably not about this though. hahaha

 

[sj-pratt]

Thats a been a problem more and more for me, brand new Remingtons and the scope hole threads not cut or just to shallow. I have also been making it a practice to run a tap down all the scope mount holes before I even but the barrels on, and ones with the barrels already on I ground a bottoming tap because I hate broken screws. Sounds like maybe to long of screw and you are hitting the bolt or the threads on the barrel depending which screw??? Advice given should help get you out trouble. If you can't lift your bolt you'll know what you have done.

 

[mrb1982]

Thats a been a problem more and more for me, brand new Remingtons and the scope hole threads not cut or just to shallow. I have also been making it a practice to run a tap down all the scope mount holes before I even but the barrels on, and ones with the barrels already on I ground a bottoming tap because I hate broken screws. Sounds like maybe to long of screw and you are hitting the bolt or the threads on the barrel depending which screw??? Advice given should help get you out trouble. If you can't lift your bolt you'll know what you have done.

You could very well be right on the too long of screw. I haven't tried the bolt but we'll see I guess. I am confident I should be able to get it out without much trouble hopefully, but we'll see I guess.

 

[mrb1982]

Crisis averted

Went home on my lunch break to try to decide what to do. This stuff eats away at me until it's fixed so I had to do something.

First thing, tried a pliers with a good set of teeth on it. Tried it, didn't think it was working.

Then I thought about slotting the top with a hack. That didn't seem like a great idea.

So I went back to the plier, put a death grip on it, turned it right out.

Threaded another screw in to make sure the threads were alright, and all is good.

gotta head to the hardware store tomorrow to try to find a new screw. Before I did all this, I checked the bolt, and it was free, so I took it out. Turns out the threads for the screw I was putting in are just super shallow.

Thanks for everybody's help. This is a great sight with a lot of people always willing to help. Thanks again.

 

[mrb1982]

Can I just buy a mew screw at the hardware store or do I need something higher grade from the manufacturer?

 

[Trickymissfit]

Can I just buy a mew screw at the hardware store or do I need something higher grade from the manufacturer?

first of all the bolts and nuts most hardware stores carry are borderline junk. Some do carry Fastenall, but they are not all that good as well. Then there is the other problem. Your probably using a #6-48 or a #8-40, and they won't be selling them. Your better off calling the manufacturer of the base and buying a new set of screws (they'll probably just give them to you). Also while getting ready to reinstall the base, buy a small tube of Loctite 222 (sometimes it's called small thread locker) or purple. Blue is not what you want.
gary

 

[mrb1982]

Thanks for the info. I called Talley and they are gonna send me some screws.