Gunsmithing Stripped Allen Screw Head in McRee Stock

[ashland]

I have stripped out the area where the allen wrench goes into the allen screw head on my McRee stock and was wondering if anybody had a quick fix for this. I tried a Torx bit but that didn't work. Should I sacrifice an allen wrench and use JB Weld? It is the front action screw on the stock and it will need to be changed if I can get it out. The barreled action is currently in the stock.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

use a metric allen wrench in tap it into the bolt. i can hardly believe its that tight...only supposed to 65inlb unless you applied retard strength to it.

 

[Deadshot2]

Should I sacrifice an allen wrench and use JB Weld?

If it were mine I'd go the J-B/Allen Wrench route. If you positively have to save the wrench, just give it a wax job with some Kiwi Neutral Shoe polish. Not much, just enough on the wrench to allow it to part once you've removed the screw.

Also, it helps to make the recess a little deeper in the screw if you can. I've used a dremel with a 1/16" carbide burr to take some metal out of the bottom of the socket so the wrench will seat farther in. Not too much as the head may then part from the bolt.

Depending on the tools at hand, as a last resort the head can be removed by drilling, doing the final close work with a dremel burr. When the head's gone then you should be able to part the action from the stock then merely remove the bolt with a pair of vice grips. Like I said, Last Resort.

 

[ashland]

Thank you both for responding. I just got off the phone with Scott and he gave me some information. There are 4 screws on the front of the stock in front of the action screw. He said to remove those and it would give me better access to the action screw. I believe this will allow me to use a wrench or if worse comes to worse, use a Dremel to make a slot in the allen screw head to remove it. Scott said the screw is a 1/4" X 28 X 1" Buttonhead that can be found at a hardware store. Gonna give this a try.

McRee's communication has been down and they just got back up.

Thanks again for responding to my question.

 

[smokebomb]

If it'll fit, buy an ez out that has a tip very close to the size of your allen wrench.

If going the epoxy route, I'd prefer devcon 10110 to jb weld. Jb weld is "mushy" compared to devcon, but it CAN work.

I have been lucky enough to get a stripped allen head screw out with a little aluminum foil on the allen wrench... But rarely.

Using a dremel to either deepen the hole, square it up for next size larger bit, or cutting a cross groove so you can remove the bolt with a flathead screw driver is something I'd recommend IF you are very patient and coordinated.

If nothing else works, drill the head off the bolt.

Was it a worn bolt, loose wrench or excessive tightening that caused the issue?

 

[Deadshot2]

Once you get the screw out, to prevent future problems use good quality allen wrenches (not the bargain bin variety) and make sure there is no lint or dirt in the bottom of the hole. The allen wrench needs to be fully in the hole to make sure the hole isn't progressively stripped out. I also like to use a little anti-sieze on all threaded fasteners. A holdover from my days working at an aircraft manufacturer. Makes sure that the threads aren't galled and the anti-seize agents are great rust and corrosion inhibitors. Just remember, a little goes a long way.

 

[ashland]

I got it out using a torx head bit. I used too much force when I tightened the bolt. My fault. Having a litle trouble finding the right replacement but I can get them from McRee if all else fails.

Thank you.

 

[Deadshot2]

I got it out using a torx head bit. I used too much force when I tightened the bolt. My fault. Having a litle trouble finding the right replacement but I can get them from McRee if all else fails.

Thank you.

I've found a lot of button head machine screws at my local ACE Hardware store. Also at a lumber store that uses the name "Do It Best" for the hardware section.

May have to go for a longer length and just shorten it.

 

[Deadshot2]

Invest in a quality torque wrench and quality bits. Save yourself future head aches & heart aches.

Quality tools are never a waste of monies.

Regards,

Steve

No question the tools are important but unfortunately there are just plain faulty fasteners out there. I've had damn few stripped or broken fasteners due to tool quality than I have had due to faulty product or "faulty operator".

If we wanted to make sure that we never had a cross threaded or stripped fastener (threads or head) we'd chase the threads, checks the socket or slot, make sure the tool was the exact one for the fastener, and then use some anti-seize. We all do that, right??? Oh, did I forget to mention the faulty fastener? If it's not an "Aircraft Standard" fastener, chances are that at least on or two out of a box of 100 will have a "boogered thread" or an internal flaw.

That's life and no "High End" torque wrench will ever solve that problem

 

[Switchblade]

I picked up a small kit at Sears. It has easy outs for stripped heads like these. Works with counter rotating force applied and usually pulls out even the toughest stripped allen head screws. If I have to use the dremel and center drill the screw, no problem, I am very careful, do it, and the easy out goes deeper and works better. If you strip the threads, there are repair kits for that as well that use replacement threads that are red loctited into place

 

[hdbiker1]

It seems to me that a lot of buttonhead and flathead capscrews have shallow holes, so I've always found it easier and faster to just drill off the head.