Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Best screwdriver set for beginner?

soldierblue72
I inherited a Marlin 336C .30-30 rifle and a Ruger New Model Single Six .22 LR/WMR convertible revolver. I need to give them a good cleaning. I learned how to take down M-14 rifles and .45 cal Colt pistols in the Army, but civilian guns have all these screws you have to deal with. Please give me some recommendations for a small quality screwdriver set.
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Hawkshaw
    Go to
    brownells.com
    or
    midwayusa.com
    Either one should have what you need. HAWKSHAW
    0
  • Nwcid
    + 1 to the above poster. Most it not all the sets these companies sell are for guns.

    The one big difference in drivers for guns is you want hollow ground bits, not the tapered kind you find at the auto parts/hardware stores.

    You can get a basic ~20 piece kit for about $20 or the bit 80-100 piece kits for $75-100.
    0
  • He Dog
    Chapman makes a nice, reasonably priced set for a beginner with soft enough steel to avoid damage to screws. http://www.chapmanmfg.com/
    0
  • brier-49
    http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/catsearch.aspx?c=69&p=4794 these magna-tip are the best I've found. No not cheap but worth it.
    0
  • 11b6r
    Have been using a set of Chapman's for 30 yrs. They are in my range box right now. Brownell's will also do ya good. Neither is dirt cheap, but reasonable- can help keep from buggering up a screw, and will last until you lose them.
    0
  • 1KYDSTR
    I am currently using the Wheeler Engineering 89 piece Professional Gunsmiths set. I think it is on sale at Midway this month. It seems, thus far, to be well thought out, comprehensive and well made. I have used the Chapmans stuff and have zero complaints about their products either.
    0
  • sandwarrior
    I cheat...all my stuff is aircraft tooling...or Snappy-time (Snap-on). I will say that it's not the hardness of a tip that helps. It's the strength and the grip the tool has on the slot. Snap-on as well as Matco and Mac have strong thin tips that are roughened up to help with the grip. The only time you will bugger up a screw is when you slip or don't insert the tool into the fastener right. In low torque situations you can get away with this. In high torque situations you can't.

    One thing you ought to never overlook is stopping the high torque process with a tool, and using a penetrating oil instead. Of course, waiting for it to work as well. It needs to be mentioned regularly that some of the screws/fasteners used on the fire-arms of yesteryear are "one-of-a-kind" and breaking them would cause lost value to a collectable item. Not to mention downtime while it's being replaced.
    0
  • iwannausername
    Friend of mine who worked on esoteric bicycle stuff would just buy cheap $1 screwdrivers whenever he could, and would grind 'em down to fit what he needed at the moment....
    0
  • Knifecollector
    I also use a set of Chapmans purchased from Brownells.
    0
  • mark christian
    I've also used a Chapman set for many years. For specific types of screws like those found on Brownings, I prefer Grace screwdrivers.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity