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Need to replace my gunsmith screwdriver set

montanajoe
  • Community moderator
local store I like,has a 43 pc. set from wheeler engineering. If I recall correctly, this manufactr. has gotten real good reviews here in the past. Correct??
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Comments

26 comments

Date Votes
  • toad67
    I like mine. Get the fat wrench too..
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  • charliemeyer007
    They will work. I like Apex bits and grind them to fit exactly on the ones I use a lot.
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  • Locust Fork
    I remember when I went to one of the local large stores and bought myself a gunsmith screwdriver set....nothing fancy, just a Weaver set so I can take scopes off and mess with a few minor issues I run into from time to time. I told the owner of the store that I felt pretty silly with how excited I was over this purchase. Hunting down bits and such is a total pain.
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  • 11b6r
    CDNN Sports has a sale on right now:
    GUNSMITH 51 PC TOOL KIT OUTERS
    Manufacturer: OUTERS?
    MPN: 99752
    SKU: OUT99752
    UPC: 076683997524
    In Stock
    Regular Price: $34.49
    Special Sale: $9.89

    I just bought one- not bad. I am still using my little set of Chapman screwdrivers from 30 years ago.
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  • toad67
    Interesting little article. The Weaver looks good if you need the stuff...

    https://www.reloaderaddict.com/best-gunsmith-screwdriver-set-review-wheeler-bits/
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  • Ditch-Runner
    I have a couple old chapman sets and a wheeler set or two ( one a scope mounting kit ) also a couple other brands I do not remember the name of now . all of mine are the interchangeable bit types all have served me well . broke a few bits but east to replace
    lots of choices now many years ago other than a expensive set of gunsmith screwdrivers the chapman were what I found at local GS

    I found chucking the bits in a drill makes work go a lot faster and I use the same drill I use a ss cleaning brush in to clean the bores
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  • Warbirds
    I have lots of wheeler engineering stuff.

    It works when I need it to.
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    Thanks all.
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  • BobJudy
    I have been using the Chapman set for 30+ years as well as a couple of other brands. The wheeler set looks good. Isn't that one of the Midway brands? Bob
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    local ranch store has this set I mentioned. I'm far from a gunsmith and only use like 4 bits total,so this set should serve me well.
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  • brier-49
    Brownells Magna-Tip , you can't beat them.
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  • Okie743
    Midway has Wheeler sets. Two or 3 different sizes kits and the FAT wrench too.

    You can review wheeler on-line. (at midway) They sometimes have a free ship option. Subscribe on-line to get emails about their sales.

    I have a chapman set and the bits can be broken quite easily. They are brittle hard. I've never chipped or broke a Wheeler. The wheeler sets has a really good rubber handle bit driver that let you get a good grip and feel for the force being applied to the driver.

    If you fiddler around with scopes/mounts get yourself a laser bore sight kit that has adapters from 22-50 cal.
    I've found that the longer the distance that I bore sight (50 yards or more) the closer the on target shot at 100 yards when first shooting. I have a older model Laserlyte kit that is good, red dot, but it likes to eat the button type hearing aid batteries. I buy the batteries on-line at a discount. I think maybe the green light laser would be easier to see in bright sunlight.
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  • mrmike08075
    I have two sets of the old school style from brownells - wood handled and blued and well made...

    I have more modern sets with the full gamut of bit styles that run to the obscure used on public bathroom fittings...

    I return to the leather roll drawstring tied wood handled blued steel from brownells...

    I also use two magnetic stainless bowls as repositories for springs and screws and hardware.

    Mike
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  • He Dog
    Ask Nononsense, he recommends a set I have never heard of, and considers most like Brownell's unworthy.
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  • David Nunn
    I have a very old set of Grace screwdrivers. Nice.

    Also, a boxed set of Wheeler bits with two handles. I really like the Wheeler tools, but I do wish the handles were magnetized. Wheeler has a specialized tool tip for removing and installing a Smith & Wesson rebound slide. It works A LOT better than the home-made tool I was using.
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  • shootuadeal
    Here at the store we have had many different sets over the years, most are still here with bits missing/broken. We never know what is going to walk in and need a scope changed. Currently we just got the Wheeler T-handle set with Torx, metric and standard allen T-handle wrenches. For the Torx sizes I mention below I still just use the Craftsman screwdrivers which we wear out/break 2-3 a year, I usually buy like 5 at a time everytime I go to Sears. Our main needs are:

    T10 for Ruger rings
    T15 for all the steel Leupold base and rings and several other of the better better rings on the market
    Micro regular screwdriver for removing base plugs on receivers
    7/64" T handle for most "better cheaper" modern mounts like the Leupold Aluminum rings
    2.5mm T handle for the "lesser cheaper" rings and mounts out there like rings that come on the super cheap package guns
    Forster/Bonanza regular screwdrivers, one big and one smaller one.

    If you have the above you will be able to tackle probably 98% of the scope mounting jobs.

    For General gunsmith the rest of our T-handle set and the regular screwdriver covers pretty much any gun that needs to be taken apart.

    Occasionally you will come across the odd Philips here and there (Howa bases/Rings) but they are not common.
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  • asphalt cowboy
    brier-49 wrote:
    Brownells Magna-Tip , you can't beat them.

    Actually, you can. But you'd pay a small fortune for English made turn screws.
    And yes, I've got Magna-Tip also. It was a small fortune for this Average Joe, but I've got every tip they offer plus the stone to re-shape or dress up with.
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  • pawnee66
    brier-49 wrote:
    Brownells Magna-Tip , you can't beat them.

    Amen
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  • wolfpack
    Grace makes a great set. Like the one I have a lot.
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  • Idahobound
    Are you ever going to say hi. I am there at least 5 days a week. North 7th
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    North 7th??? That's the big city. I usually go to 4 corners, closer. But,I have been known to do little out of the way jogs.
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  • Idahobound
    Damnit come in and say hi. Loo for the the good looking somebitch named Jarrod
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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  • mrmike08075
    While I did not expect my brownells wood handled blued steel gunsmith screwdriver sets to be imbued with magical properties - I had no idea that some of you who know what you are talking about had a dislike for them or that they were considered improper tools for their intended purposes...

    While I have a plethora of various screwdrivers and tools and bit sets that range from bargains to relatively pricey I always thought the brownells items were of fair quality and purpose built for gunsmithing needs...

    I bought them primarily to use on single action colt revolvers and Winchester lever actions of prime vintage (1886 and 1895 and 1894 to be specific)

    I know they are old fashion clones or a modern take on the original colt screwdrivers that can sometimes be found inside cases guns with accessories - that it's an attempt at the traditional aesthetics - and I do like the way that fit my hand.

    I have a set of vintage screwdrivers that have bronze and brass and copper appearing tips that are supposed to be non sparking and non marring - and you must take care of how you use them because you can ruin the tips...

    I also have a vintage set made in Milwaukee with tungsten carbide tips - I guess they have a high Rockwell hardness score but I am uncertain what they were intended for.

    I do collect the vintage Sears and roebuck / craftsman branded screwdrivers that are marked as chromium and vanadium alloy - I was told they were top quality tools.

    I have two wall mounted plastic racks that each hold 40 or 50 screwdriver shaped tools full of a lifetime's worth of hoarded tools - some nice and some cheap.

    Also have several vintage all brass hammers from ball peen to a 7 or 8 pound large variant hammer with one flat sledge like face and one triangle wedge shaped face - they seem to be somewhat sought after.

    I am a huge proponent of the stainless steel magnetic bowls.

    I also have a shoebox full of screwdrivers pulled from civilian cleaning kits and military issue kits and ones shipped with retail guns (colt and S&W - etc...

    I probably have a dozen from the mosin nagant kits and the nagant gas seal revolver kits.

    I would be interested in hearing more on the topic of such tools and there construction and materials from people better informed then I am.

    I have always been careful not to bugger up or mar or even scratch or overtighten screws on guns and watches and fine items.

    I have a 6 piece jewelers screwdriver set that belonged to my grandfather marked Waltham - he said that stocking dealers post WWII used them - he bought them from a pawn shop in the 60's...

    It's an interesting thread subject.

    Mike
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  • mrmike08075
    https://youtu.be/R-mDqKtivuI

    Enjoy.

    Mike
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  • drobs
    Another vote for the Grace Gunsmith Screw Driver set. Made in the USA. Bought mine for working on my BP revolvers. Really only use 1 or 2 of the set but no more munged screw heads.
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