Gun tools?

M

Mr. James

New member
I was going to title this "gunsmithing tools," but that's absurd, as I'm far from a gunsmith. But I've long worried about handling my firearms with common tools. Saturday, I field stripped a Marlin 1894 lever action, no big deal, using a common household screwdriver. But taking that nasty screwdriver to my rifle makes me wince, given the potential for damage to the finish of the gun. Same for my handguns, which is why I posted here. What do y'all use to field strip/service/repair your firearms?

Many thanks for your help.
 
I have the ..

Chapman screwdriver bits and usually stone some to fit specific screwheads.

Also have a Cabelas screwdriver set, use brass punches for moving / starting pins then use steel pin punches for drifting out completely.

For removing semi-auto firing pin, took a 3/8 brass rod by 3/8 long, and drilled a 1/8" thru hole then drilled & tapped a 6-32 hole cross-wise to hold the firing pin out from the breach-face, to remove the firing pi stop.
 
You can get a good set of hollowground screwdriver tips from various sources.

I don't remember where I got mine but I have one something like the one in the link.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=510765

If you have to deal with roll-pins, get a good set of punches made specifically for roll-pins. They will save you a lot of trouble.

I have a small hammer with a brass head. You don't need a monster hammer for most things and the brass head means that if you miss or hit something you didn't mean to you're less likely to tear up your gun.
 
I just purchased a Winchester gunscrew driver set from Wal-Mart for all of $9.99. Comes in a plastic case and actually works very well. The bits are parallel ground (thin) and sized for different screws. I have used it on my guns and it works on screw heads that normal bits would never properly fit.
 
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I bought a Winchester branded box of screwdriver/torx/square driver, etc., bits and handle at Wal Mart. Relatively cheap.

Only problem with it is that the magnet in the handle has pulled loose and keeps coming out with the bits. I'll epoxy it back in place one of these days.


Edit in: I see Mad Mag purchased the same set I did.
 
Forster makes a nice set of slotted gunsmith's screwdrivers with handles molded on each driver. B-Square makes a set of bits with a single handle. I have both, but like the Forster screwdrivers better for slotted screws.
 
Brownells sells a basic gunsmithing kit, read the list of tools it includes. It has all the tools you will likely ever need unless you start being a serious gun mechanic. You can assemble your own for less than you can buy the kit from Brownells, it just has everything already picked out for you.
 
Wheeler Engineering makes a decent gun screw driver set. I like them when they go on sale.:D I have the Brownell's magna-tip set and a bunch of the add on bits sitting on my bench at the shop. I use the wheeler's as loaners.

Joat
 
I have a set of Brownells, wheeler,foster, bonaza, chapman
Cheap screwdrivers ground parrell and hollow.
Koblot four way( two slotted two phyilps)
A CVS interchangeable hollow ground bit my wife bought me
General precision brand
Northern Hydrolics set that are hollow ground
And more
Never have enough as you always break the thin ones or need to grind one down


CEW
 
Mike Irwin said:
Only problem with it is that the magnet in the handle has pulled loose and keeps coming out with the bits. I'll epoxy it back in place one of these days.
Click to expand...

Epoxy should work. Heck, $9.99 pluse epoxy...still a good deal.:D
 
They don't usually tell the world, but a lot of gunsmiths buy inexpensive screwdrivers and grind them as needed, since it always seems that there is nothing in the tool box to match the slot of the screw you have to remove.

But no screwdriver will guarantee that a screw head won't be buggered up or that the driver won't slip and leave a scar. Preventing that is a matter of experience and care, not costly screwdrivers.

One of the best investments, at least for working on older handguns, is a set of cup tip punches (Brownells has them). They allow those round head pins to be removed and replaced without battering.

Jim
 
Tool's,,,,,

I use a lot of Craftsman. My basic screw driver set, roll pin and solid pin punches are Craftsman. Hammers,,, I never use multi function hammers. If I want a steel ballpein. Thats what I use. A brass or synthetic head hammer. I pick up the right tool for the job. And you will make your own tools. Or adapt tools for the job at hand. You will make tools. Thus,,, yes even you can be a tool maker. <<<< A tool maker use to mean something in America before you had to have a degree to manage a McDonalds.

Have a heat source for refinishing or working with pressed parts or basic heat treating.

You can have all the tools in the world. The best tools ever made! And if you do not understand the task at hand or how to use the tools at hand. You are set up for failure. There are no true secrets or dark art involved in modern firearms. They have only beat out the basic hammer in over all development by a hair if you have a basic grasp on mech. 101. :)
 
psyshack said:
I use a lot of Craftsman.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with Craftsman, but most normal screwdrivers will not work well for gun screws. A lot of gun screws take a thin parallel ground screw driver for proper fit. I also agree, grinding a regular screwdriver can also work.
 
My Christmas list this year included a brass & steel punch set, a gunsmith screwdrived set and a bore light.

Those, plus a small ball peen hammer, and I should be set for basic assembly/reassembly.

I already have cleaning supplies for various lengths & calibers.

Next on my shopping list are:

A large, nylon cutting board - So I don't ruin my dining room table.

Cat food dishes - Great for puting screws, pins and other small parts in. Seriously...

Parallel Jaw Pliers

Other specialty tools as I need them
 
You are correct that good screwdriver fit is high priority to not goobering up a gun.I believe it is Grace that makes screwdriver sets ground for specific guns,say a Colt SAA or a Win 92 or a S+W.I gave a buddy of mine a set of Forsters as his Snap Ons were being used up.I suggested when we grind one to a good fit for an application,we buzz pen engrave the handle and get another screwdriver.That screwdriver may fit other screws,but its best not to alter it again till it wears . makes for a lot of screwdrivers,but less grinding.
BTW,a 1/4 shank mounted grinding wheel in a mill collet with the screwdiver in a vee block is one way to dress a tip.I suspect it would work to use an X-Y vise on a drill press.
 
i can get one of those wheeler kits for 'free' using my rewards on my cabelas card. my question is are the bits the 'flat' blades so they don't muck up the screw heads? or is this just like every other screwdriver kit @ any hardware store?
 
i bought a jenkins set of t handle pin drivers and a wheeler screwdriver/bit set for under $120. haven't had a need for anything else. brownells has gunsmith sets for $300+ that look nice, but have a lot of stuff i don't need.
jmho
 
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