How screwed am I?
Posted by 808oahu@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 57 comments
So the head of my Holosun screw completely snapped off and now the rest of the screw is stuck inside the slide. How screwed am I? Is there an at home solution or am I better off going to a gunsmith?
ilikerelish@reddit
You are pretty fucked, not going to lie.. However...
I am an amateur gunsmith, and I think with a jeweler's loop and a diamond point thin bit in a dremel you may be able to recut a slot into the shank of the screw to take a jeweler's screw driver to back the screw out. Alternatively, a very VERY fine pointed punch and a 5oz tack hammer could be used to tap the shank off center to kind of unscrew it from the slide. If you locktited it in though, absolutely fucked is what I would call this situation, and you'd be better off letting a smith or a machinist put the thing up on a mill and bore the screw out and rechase the threads.
Southern-Body-1029@reddit
Ez-out
BigoleDog8706@reddit
You seriously dont know how to deal with a broken screw???
ArgieBee@reddit
Only mildly. Remove the striker assemble, put a soldering iron to the screw until it starts to smoke, then freeze it in a freezer. In the meantime, try to locate an automatic center punch, a left hand drill set, and some screw extractors.
When you have the tools, file the top of the screw flat, mark it deep with the center punch, and drill it with whatever drill goes to the smallest extractor you have. It's also worth mentioning that you want to drill into the screw as centered and square as you can. You're probably going to only get the smallest extractor you can find on that screw, so you'll probably only get one shot at an easy out.
If you're lucky, the drill will break it loose. If you're the opposite of lucky, it won't and the extractor will strip the hole. In this scenario, drill it the rest of the way through, then, if you have any more room for it at this point, work up in size cautiously until you're not sure if you'll hit the threads in the hole or not. Hit it with the soldering iron again for good measure, then freeze the everloving shit out of it to get the screw to shrink and release a bit with the new relief you just drilled through it. From here, use something like a needle file or dremel burr to cut a notch into at least one of the sides of the screw to create something you can push a pick or punch into and try to rotate the screw.
Worst case scenaro, you just tape everything off, and JB weld an allen wrench in the hole, inserting it from the backside so that it doesn't push JB weld into the threads. Leave some space free of JB weld toward where you insert it, so it doesn't just squeeze out. It's better to push it through onto some tape. You might even be able to get away with super glue. That's not so permanent if you get it in the threads.
Coho444@reddit
You have had your share of messed up things. I have too . everything you said is solid advice. Only thing I could add is you have to say a lot of bad words when you’re doing this. It helps
Maleficent_Mix_8739@reddit
For me, I would’ve already chucked it into my drill press, drilled it and used an extractor on it BUT, since you came on Reddit to ask this question then the best option for you is likely to get a guy like me to do it for you.
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Fair
Maleficent_Mix_8739@reddit
Gunsmith will likely be far less than buying the stuff you’d need assuming you don’t already have it. And they’ll be a bit ahead on the learning curve. I used a pencil eraser once in a situation like this, I cut the pencil down to about two inches, chucked it into my cordless drill, set the drill to revers and it produced enough friction to unscrew it. I’ve also krazy glued a solution as well. You may be to super glue a small pin to the screw and grab the pin with pliers and get it out. Either one of these options will not make the problem worse. And by “pin” something like the shaft (non pointy) end of a drill bit.
DTKeign@reddit
Yes but now he has an excuse to buy the stuff he needs to fix it
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Got the bit and the extractor. Didn’t work out for me. I’ll be consulting a gunsmith
Maleficent_Mix_8739@reddit
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that’s very true
808oahu@reddit (OP)
This is some crazy MacGyver shit. I like it and I might even try it
Maleficent_Mix_8739@reddit
lmao, I’ve been at it for over 30 years, so you pick up a trick or two
lethalmuffin877@reddit
Sagely wisdom, I’m glad you didn’t suggest drilling a pilot freehand without a press and chuck, those screws are hardened more than the metal in the slide iirc so if the bit walks (and it will) it chews into the slide instead of the screw.
If the super glue doesn’t work a viscous epoxy might, just make sure you’re taping off the slide and cutting a hole out where your screw is so the glue/epoxy isn’t getting on the slide.
tyr_j1@reddit
You could always contact smith and they will fix it. Did you snap off the head installing the optic or were you shooting it and then it broke? If you were shooting and it snapped they will definitely fix it and i dont think they will charge you.
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Shooting it and it broke. Definitely over torqued it
tyr_j1@reddit
I’ve seen about five smiths have this same issue happen. Everyone was running the polymer plate smith gives you, after using a C&H precision plate and their screws we havent seen issues
charlie-you-lose@reddit
Can confirm. Happened to my 10mm, Smith fixed it no charge. Worst part was the wait.
dedicated_skumbag@reddit
Left hand drill…. Take it right out
Adventurous-Sea6042@reddit
🤭
ZucchiniCultural3261@reddit
Take it to a mechanic. I drilled my bosses out
justfirfunsies@reddit
Based on your user name and the like for guns, pretty screwed.
unclemoak@reddit
Easy to remove. 0% screwed. We do a handful every week.
Kryakozavr@reddit
Nothing impossible for the good hand. Ask any gunsmith or car repairs guys.. they deal with that kind of screw every day. Or you can try don't yourself, drill hole center of screw and use extractors from Amazon. Just friendly reminder: cost for repair after you tried usually twice..
lethalmuffin877@reddit
Just be careful drilling those screws, they’re usually hardened metal which requires a carbide bit. Cheap bits will walk off the screw and chew into the slide.
Even the carbide will walk off the screw and chew into the slide unless a divot is made using an awl or punch.
Extractor kits are nice, but they’re risky for the work piece if you don’t have all the right tools and experience. A drill press and chuck is the best thing to use for extraction like that
Lovestosplooge68@reddit
This
808oahu@reddit (OP)
I appreciate it thank you
Kryakozavr@reddit
You welcome.
zippytwd@reddit
This sucks but it's fixable , find a good gun smith hell you may even be able to fix this your self
Unable_Coach8219@reddit
Screw extraction but from Home Depot! Super easy
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Can you link which one I should get?
Unable_Coach8219@reddit
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/power-tool-accessories/screw-extractors/2029567?store=11707&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20155431020&gbraid=0AAAAADtqLJF954KxBdY0tIdw2_9B9tGi-&gclid=CjwKCAjwq9rFBhAIEiwAGVAZP-aH3pgTmoYKensBpUdPTxVj2HBmnO40gm_4fPui8ruxTZujIBIKZhoCRTIQAvD_BwE
greatthebob38@reddit
These extractor bits work about 60% of the time for me and usually not on the first try. I am thrilled when they do work though.
Unable_Coach8219@reddit
I’ve never once had an issue. 100% rate for me and it’s always been surprising lol.
HaroldTheSloth84@reddit
This is the answer. I once used one of these puppies to remove a snapped gas key screw from an AR-15 bolt carrier. The carrier is still running strong.
Unable_Coach8219@reddit
I’ve used them in so many things lol they’re great.
lethalmuffin877@reddit
Make sure you’re watching videos on how to do this, and pick up a divot punch or scratch awl to make a ping in the screw so your bits don’t walk off the screw and wreck your slide
Dojadank1@reddit
I’d say take it to a trust worth gunsmith so you don’t damage the slide yourself
AcumenNation@reddit
Do you have thread locker on it? If not no biggie at all
Strong_Dentist_7561@reddit
With a capable gunsmith it’s a 30 minute job, tops
Actual-Log465@reddit
Easy fix with correct tooling .
C4Vendetta76@reddit
C and H offers a service to remove sheered optic screws; unless youre feeling really confident with your gunsmithing skills
slowpoke076@reddit
Zoinks!!
Middle-Chipmunk-3001@reddit
Worst case just send it back to S&W. They’ll do it
TheNefariousMrH@reddit
Unless you have access to bench tools...
...heckin'.
WhocaresToo@reddit
Not too bad. You could take it to your local gunsmith and most of them will know exactly how to remove this and have the vise and extractor to do so. If you can't get a grip on it with a tiny pair of vice grips or something. It looks like you might be able to but depending on how soft that screw is you might end up just tearing off the little corner of the screw that you've got the bite on with vice grips but it might be worth a try. I don't think a gunsmith would charge you that much if you have one locally and then you won't have to send it off either. I know my range that offers complete smithing Services would do it right then and there while I wait. They're very cool about stuff like this so it might be worth a shot calling around locally
BeenisHat@reddit
Grab the end of it with some vise grips and see if you can't get it to twist out. You might get lucky. Otherwise, It's not a hard fix if you have the tools but it's probably not worth the spend. Broken screw extractor isn't too expensive though.
Scrambled_Meat@reddit
C&H Precision will do a good job. Sent them the same exact slide with sheared trijicon screw, came back like it was brand new. Paid less than 150 if I remember correctly. Torque screwdriver, and a little paint or marker for a witness mark will help you avoid this. Probably overkill but you can get titanium replacement screws.
https://share.google/hFSiDQnY9FEHhbBeY
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Very helpful thank you
Bi0nic__Ape@reddit
If you have tools like a drill press or even just a vise, hardware store will have "screw extractor sets" with different sizes. I imagine if you took it to a gunsmith they would try this first, and just drill/ tap it if that failed.
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
airmech1776@reddit
Looks like you are about 60% screwed, lol.
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Underrated comment
Klutzy-Spell-3586@reddit
I’m a gunsmith and I hate when that happens.
Relative-Weekend-941@reddit
gunsmith or machinist. There are tools you can buy to do it yourself but I've never been successful at it.
808oahu@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
Negative_Mushroom545@reddit
Easy fix