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Gunsmithing What's the best way to shorten action screws?

Disturbed

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 6, 2010
409
0
Alabama
Help me out before I screw something up.

Run a nut down it and dremel grind it down?
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

depends on how much needs trimmed, I run a nut down first to make sure it will straighten the threads back out if there happens to be a problem, but then I use a bench grinder if it only needs a little, and a band saw with metal blade if it needs more.
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

Dremel tool and cut off wheel.
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

I generally use a bench grinder.
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

If I had a grinder I'd use that if not, dremel tool with cutoff wheel. After it's cut, I simply bevel the edge a little
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

My process start to finish:

I start w/ the front screw. Snug it up all the way. Drop the bolt into the receiver. Back out the screw till the bolt falls into battery. Count the revs it takes for this to happen.

Assuming you have a mill/lathe:

I use a mill most often. I made a plate tapped to a variety of pitches common to the actions I use most. (1/4-28 and 1/4-32 being the most common). Run the screw into the plate as far as it'll go. Touch off the tool to the tip of the screw.

Say you had 4.5 revs on the front screw in order to get the bolt to drop. All you do is multiply the pitch x's the revs it took to get the bolt to drop. A 28 pitch screw is .0357/rev. X's 4.5 is .160".

That's how much you buzz off the screw.

Blind holes are more work.

C.
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

i normally use a grinder if there isn't too much to take off, or chuck it in the lathe if i need to remove more than .125". then just touch it up on the belt sander and its GTG!
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

Just in case you don't have a mill, the above other ways will work just fine also. I just count the threads that stick out of the hole, and cut them off. Then I just go to the belt sander, but a grinder with a well dressed wheel will also work, and clean up the end. I do like the backing it out while counting the revs until the bolt clears idea. Think I'll try that on my next one. I do keep bag of extra screws in case I mess one up.
 
Re: What's the best way to shorten action screws?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I do keep bag of extra screws in case I mess one up. </div></div>

Yes, good idea, I went to Lowes and bought a baggie full of different length Allen heads, some long ( for bedding ) and some close to right, trimming mine on grinder, clean up with thread file.