Need to replace my gunsmith screwdriver set

montanajoe

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??

toad67

I like mine. Get the fat wrench too..

charliemeyer007

They will work. I like Apex bits and grind them to fit exactly on the ones I use a lot.

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.

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.

toad67

Interesting little article. The Weaver looks good if you need the stuff...

https://www.reloaderaddict.com/best-gunsmith-screwdriver-set-review-wheeler-bits/

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

Warbirds

I have lots of wheeler engineering stuff.

It works when I need it to.

montanajoe

Thanks all.

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

montanajoe

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.

brier-49

Brownells Magna-Tip , you can't beat them.

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.

He Dog

Ask Nononsense, he recommends a set I have never heard of, and considers most like Brownell's unworthy.

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.

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.

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.

pawnee66

brier-49 wrote:

Brownells Magna-Tip , you can't beat them.

Amen

wolfpack

Grace makes a great set. Like the one I have a lot.

Idahobound

Are you ever going to say hi. I am there at least 5 days a week. North 7th

montanajoe

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.

Idahobound

Damnit come in and say hi. Loo for the the good looking somebitch named Jarrod

montanajoe

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.