Had this happen to two of the four today on my Savage. I was switching from some old two piece bases to a one piece rail. I just want to make sure I don't damage the receiver.
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Rifle Scopes How to remove stripped out base screws?
- Thread starter Swift
- Start date
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
As the screws likely are loctited, you gotta heat them first.
Then mount a screwdriver bit in the drillpress.
Don't start the machine at all.
Mount your action on the table on the drillpress.
Wind down the screwdriver bit into the screw and unscrew by rotating your chuck....
Håkan
As the screws likely are loctited, you gotta heat them first.
Then mount a screwdriver bit in the drillpress.
Don't start the machine at all.
Mount your action on the table on the drillpress.
Wind down the screwdriver bit into the screw and unscrew by rotating your chuck....
Håkan
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
+1 Hakan
You didn't say if they are slotted, Allen or Star... but you may have to use a Dremel to cut slots in them if you stripped out Allens. Or custom grind an Allen to fit the munged up hole (may have to tap it in) and then remove as Hakan suggests.
If you do have to drill them out, invest in a set of left-hand drills! They are worth their weight in gold when it comes to this kind of thing.
But Hakan's method is good. Get the screws good and hot, too.
Cheers, Sirhr
+1 Hakan
You didn't say if they are slotted, Allen or Star... but you may have to use a Dremel to cut slots in them if you stripped out Allens. Or custom grind an Allen to fit the munged up hole (may have to tap it in) and then remove as Hakan suggests.
If you do have to drill them out, invest in a set of left-hand drills! They are worth their weight in gold when it comes to this kind of thing.
But Hakan's method is good. Get the screws good and hot, too.
Cheers, Sirhr
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
Tap and drill set. I bought a rifle off of the board here, and wasn't informed the base screws were loctited. I tried getting them off, and stripped the shit out of them. I went to the Lowes or Home Depot and gt a $13 set of Kobalt tap and drill set. 20 minutes later (15 minuts car ride home) they were out and I was onto the next project!
Tap and drill set. I bought a rifle off of the board here, and wasn't informed the base screws were loctited. I tried getting them off, and stripped the shit out of them. I went to the Lowes or Home Depot and gt a $13 set of Kobalt tap and drill set. 20 minutes later (15 minuts car ride home) they were out and I was onto the next project!
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
Try some medium grit valve grinding compound on the tip of a new driver, if "partially" stripped, it will give it a lot more grip.
If stripped out completely, allen or torx, use a cordless drill set on low gear and a sharp new drill bit that's just a hair bigger than the threaded portion of the fasteners. With the rifle in a vise or cradle bump the trigger so you get like half a rotation with each bump, holding steady down pressure on the cordless. The scew head, and consequently the bases, will eventually pop off before the shank of the screw gets damaged. You can then heat 'em a little and turn 'em out with a set of vise grips. Patience is THE key.
Damn, I mighted just saved a Savage, what's this world coming to...........
On aside, whoever invented the allen headed screw shoulda went a tad further and found the the torx drive. He didn't therefore shoulda had his balls cut off for his complete stupidity.
Try some medium grit valve grinding compound on the tip of a new driver, if "partially" stripped, it will give it a lot more grip.
If stripped out completely, allen or torx, use a cordless drill set on low gear and a sharp new drill bit that's just a hair bigger than the threaded portion of the fasteners. With the rifle in a vise or cradle bump the trigger so you get like half a rotation with each bump, holding steady down pressure on the cordless. The scew head, and consequently the bases, will eventually pop off before the shank of the screw gets damaged. You can then heat 'em a little and turn 'em out with a set of vise grips. Patience is THE key.
Damn, I mighted just saved a Savage, what's this world coming to...........
On aside, whoever invented the allen headed screw shoulda went a tad further and found the the torx drive. He didn't therefore shoulda had his balls cut off for his complete stupidity.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
if they're torx or allens I usually drill the heads out with a #29 dril, this is more often then not enough to make the heads "pop" or enough to give a gentle tap on the base and it'll pop leavinv enough of the stud to unscrew
if they're torx or allens I usually drill the heads out with a #29 dril, this is more often then not enough to make the heads "pop" or enough to give a gentle tap on the base and it'll pop leavinv enough of the stud to unscrew
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
+1 to the heat idea. I had some red loctite in my rifle and was a big mistake. I had to heat up the base and action to get the loctite soft and it worked fine.
+1 to the heat idea. I had some red loctite in my rifle and was a big mistake. I had to heat up the base and action to get the loctite soft and it worked fine.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
I use left handed drills. Heat the action good and WARM and then drill out counter clockwise. The proper sized drill will grab the stripped out head of the screw and spin it out. Works great.
I use left handed drills. Heat the action good and WARM and then drill out counter clockwise. The proper sized drill will grab the stripped out head of the screw and spin it out. Works great.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
Perfect. Got a few different methods I can try. They are allen but I have a heat gun, drill press and cordless drill handy so I might as well try those first. If not, it's a tap and die from the hardware store.
Thanks for all the help guys. For a minute there I contemplated dremeling into the base itself to try and jar the screw loose but thank god it didn't come to that.
Perfect. Got a few different methods I can try. They are allen but I have a heat gun, drill press and cordless drill handy so I might as well try those first. If not, it's a tap and die from the hardware store.
Thanks for all the help guys. For a minute there I contemplated dremeling into the base itself to try and jar the screw loose but thank god it didn't come to that.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
If they were locktited, absolutely use heat. The BEST method is to use a soldering iron, and apply the iron to the head of the screw. An 80 watt iron would be best, but a 50 watt might do it.
Do not use open flame, as everything else get overheated. Usually only 15 seconds or so of heat is needed, but it could be more with the aluminum acting like a heat sink. The more powerful the soldering iron, the faster everything will work.
If they were locktited, absolutely use heat. The BEST method is to use a soldering iron, and apply the iron to the head of the screw. An 80 watt iron would be best, but a 50 watt might do it.
Do not use open flame, as everything else get overheated. Usually only 15 seconds or so of heat is needed, but it could be more with the aluminum acting like a heat sink. The more powerful the soldering iron, the faster everything will work.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
IF the screws are not locktited, use a heat gun or small flame. The aluminum expands much faster and greater than the steel screw. However the aluminum will shrink back down fairly quickly, so do not delay.
IF the screws are not locktited, use a heat gun or small flame. The aluminum expands much faster and greater than the steel screw. However the aluminum will shrink back down fairly quickly, so do not delay.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
I use the same method that jbell suggested. Getting yourself a set of left handed drill bits was the best thing I ever did.
I use the same method that jbell suggested. Getting yourself a set of left handed drill bits was the best thing I ever did.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
These have saved me on more than one occasion.
http://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-Grabit-Damaged-Extractor/dp/B001A4CWHO
These have saved me on more than one occasion.
http://www.amazon.com/Alden-8440P-Grabit-Damaged-Extractor/dp/B001A4CWHO
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
Had the same problem; crappy hex socket screws rounded out. I ended up going the Dremel route, cutting down into the scope bases until the cutting wheel slotted the screw heads. Tip: Use a screwdriver that barely fits into the base, to grab as much of the slot as possible. The screw backs out easy after that.
Had the same problem; crappy hex socket screws rounded out. I ended up going the Dremel route, cutting down into the scope bases until the cutting wheel slotted the screw heads. Tip: Use a screwdriver that barely fits into the base, to grab as much of the slot as possible. The screw backs out easy after that.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
my neighbor uses an allen wrench or torx the next size up and taps it in there with a hammer while turning it out. ive seen him get stuff out 2-3 times that way that i had figured id need a smith to get fixed
my neighbor uses an allen wrench or torx the next size up and taps it in there with a hammer while turning it out. ive seen him get stuff out 2-3 times that way that i had figured id need a smith to get fixed
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
I just had a similar experience recently. Only for some reason, two of the screws came out fine and the front two were somehow rusted in. How, I have no idea since the rest of the gun wasn't rusty, just those screws. They didn't have lock tite on them either. Trying to get them out it just stripped the heads. I tried heating them with a propane torch and everything else I could think of. Nothing worked. So I decided to drill out the screw and use an easy out on them. I drilled through it, and then went to use the easy out and it just ripped away at the soft screw and made the hole to big to use it, but didn't loosen the screw at all. So now I had a screw with a hole in the middle I couldn't get out. I tried everything I could think of here and I couldn't get it out. I finally took it to a gunsmith and he tried several things, then finally put it on the drill press and ran a bit through it that pushed it out the bottom. Ended up being super lucky and it didn't even mess up the threads. He only charged me $5 for it, but overall it was a major pain and I honestly, would have probably never gotten it out on my own.
I just had a similar experience recently. Only for some reason, two of the screws came out fine and the front two were somehow rusted in. How, I have no idea since the rest of the gun wasn't rusty, just those screws. They didn't have lock tite on them either. Trying to get them out it just stripped the heads. I tried heating them with a propane torch and everything else I could think of. Nothing worked. So I decided to drill out the screw and use an easy out on them. I drilled through it, and then went to use the easy out and it just ripped away at the soft screw and made the hole to big to use it, but didn't loosen the screw at all. So now I had a screw with a hole in the middle I couldn't get out. I tried everything I could think of here and I couldn't get it out. I finally took it to a gunsmith and he tried several things, then finally put it on the drill press and ran a bit through it that pushed it out the bottom. Ended up being super lucky and it didn't even mess up the threads. He only charged me $5 for it, but overall it was a major pain and I honestly, would have probably never gotten it out on my own.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: slowr1der</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just had a similar experience recently. Only for some reason, two of the screws came out fine and the front two were somehow rusted in. How, I have no idea since the rest of the gun wasn't rusty, just those screws. They didn't have lock tite on them either. Trying to get them out it just stripped the heads. I tried heating them with a propane torch and everything else I could think of. Nothing worked. So I decided to drill out the screw and use an easy out on them. I drilled through it, and then went to use the easy out and it just ripped away at the soft screw and made the hole to big to use it, but didn't loosen the screw at all. So now I had a screw with a hole in the middle I couldn't get out. I tried everything I could think of here and I couldn't get it out. I finally took it to a gunsmith and he tried several things, then finally put it on the drill press and ran a bit through it that pushed it out the bottom. Ended up being super lucky and it didn't even mess up the threads. He only charged me $5 for it, but overall it was a major pain and I honestly, would have probably never gotten it out on my own. </div></div>
Very similar to my situation. The two furthest screws came out. The two inside ones are in there pretty good. No rust, though. These were just crap screws that were way too soft for this purpose. Not even sure how I got em torqued down. The heads stripped like I was turning the wrench in a tub of butter.
I never thought of tapping the next size up into the head but with these being as soft as they are, it may not be difficult. Might have to try it without the heat, first.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: slowr1der</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just had a similar experience recently. Only for some reason, two of the screws came out fine and the front two were somehow rusted in. How, I have no idea since the rest of the gun wasn't rusty, just those screws. They didn't have lock tite on them either. Trying to get them out it just stripped the heads. I tried heating them with a propane torch and everything else I could think of. Nothing worked. So I decided to drill out the screw and use an easy out on them. I drilled through it, and then went to use the easy out and it just ripped away at the soft screw and made the hole to big to use it, but didn't loosen the screw at all. So now I had a screw with a hole in the middle I couldn't get out. I tried everything I could think of here and I couldn't get it out. I finally took it to a gunsmith and he tried several things, then finally put it on the drill press and ran a bit through it that pushed it out the bottom. Ended up being super lucky and it didn't even mess up the threads. He only charged me $5 for it, but overall it was a major pain and I honestly, would have probably never gotten it out on my own. </div></div>
Very similar to my situation. The two furthest screws came out. The two inside ones are in there pretty good. No rust, though. These were just crap screws that were way too soft for this purpose. Not even sure how I got em torqued down. The heads stripped like I was turning the wrench in a tub of butter.
I never thought of tapping the next size up into the head but with these being as soft as they are, it may not be difficult. Might have to try it without the heat, first.
Re: How to remove stripped out base screws?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my neighbor uses an allen wrench or torx the next size up and taps it in there with a hammer while turning it out. ive seen him get stuff out 2-3 times that way that i had figured id need a smith to get fixed </div></div>
+1
This is exactly what I do. I use a small brass hammer just so it takes a little of the impact to. Sometimes it helps to try a metric allen if your using standard or the other way around. The small difference in size is often just what you need. I did just use the brass hammer method about a month when switching from the standard factory bases to my 20moa base on my Savage MKII trainer. 2 of the screws stripped and with a little patience and cursing I got them out in just a few min.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my neighbor uses an allen wrench or torx the next size up and taps it in there with a hammer while turning it out. ive seen him get stuff out 2-3 times that way that i had figured id need a smith to get fixed </div></div>
+1
This is exactly what I do. I use a small brass hammer just so it takes a little of the impact to. Sometimes it helps to try a metric allen if your using standard or the other way around. The small difference in size is often just what you need. I did just use the brass hammer method about a month when switching from the standard factory bases to my 20moa base on my Savage MKII trainer. 2 of the screws stripped and with a little patience and cursing I got them out in just a few min.
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