Guns - desperately need a screw

Guns - desperately need a screw

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Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Thursday 5th May 2022
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dhutch said:
As another option, can you counter bore the new rail to a depth to allow use of shorter/existing screws?
Good idea, dhutch but I'm afraid not. As the new rail is steel, they're less than 3 mm thick where the screws go. Plenty of 'meat' to countersink but not enough to counterbore. I could use a thicker alloy 'riser' rail but I like my scope's centreline to be low.



Bacon Is Proof

5,740 posts

231 months

Friday 6th May 2022
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thebraketester said:
"Desperately need a lathe"

Isn't that what the thread should be called? :-)
Or "desperately need a friendly turner with an interest in guns to cut me an obsolete and awkward screw for cake and biscuits".
I'm sadly too long out of the game to think of anyone.

Jonny_

4,128 posts

207 months

Friday 6th May 2022
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Given the detailed measurements you have, perhaps worth approaching a local machine shop and asking if they could turn some up on the lathe for you?

Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Friday 6th May 2022
quotequote all
Thanks, Bacon 'n' jonny.

Lathing some up might be a possibilty but I'm pursuing another. Because the added dovetail rail is going to be
long and held by four screws, shorter screws maight do the trick. Tonight's task, double check the depth
of the tapped holes in the barrel.

MKnight702

3,109 posts

214 months

Friday 6th May 2022
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Trenchard said:
Thanks, Bacon 'n' jonny.

Lathing some up might be a possibilty but I'm pursuing another. Because the added dovetail rail is going to be
long and held by four screws, shorter screws maight do the trick. Tonight's task, double check the depth
of the tapped holes in the barrel.
Shorter screws may well work. It’s not like you have much recoil to deal with.

pequod

8,997 posts

138 months

Friday 6th May 2022
quotequote all
Sorry OP, I had a look for you but nothing suitable in the old baccy tins, I'm afraid!

I'm sure, as others have suggested, a machine shop should be able to turn a few for you...

Redarress

677 posts

207 months

Friday 6th May 2022
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OP If you message me through Pistonheads and I will give you the name of a gunsmith ex BSA who can source or manufacture exactly what you need. He is not cheap but the parts will be spot on.

As a side I used to shoot these in the late 70’s early 80’s as our school CCF has eight or ten of them

Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Friday 6th May 2022
quotequote all
Thanks again, gents.

Major step forward this evening. I took my digital calipers to the club and carefully measured the depth of the four screw holes in question. They ranged from 5.01mm (max) to 4.89mm (min). I expect the lower figure could easily be down to muck in the holes. Given that the rail material is 2.5mm thick and that the holes will be countersunk, I'm thinking that 1/4 inch (6.35mm) screws will do the business. I believe I can get these.

In addition, I may use Weaver Oval Head screws like this.



Note two things. These are a sort of cross between countersunk and cheese head so some tweakery when drilling the clearance holes in the rail may be possible. Thing two is the note about their not being available on back order means no stock, even in the States, for two months or more.

Off searching now.

Found some!!


From Ant Hill at ANT Supplies in Swansea, at about £6 less than those not in the States with their £5.99 extra for carriage.
Only challenge, the shopping cart is 'Off 'til Saturday' perhaps to stop p*ss artists from ordering with a skinful?

Impending result.

Edited by Trenchard on Friday 6th May 23:52

NMNeil

5,860 posts

50 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
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gazza285

9,810 posts

208 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
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As an alternative, you could buy a die nut and rethread a slightly larger screw.

Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
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NMNeil said:
Yes, thanks. I'd seen such things but the postage scared me off! I've just ordered 8, which cost £7.50, including P&P, tax, the 'R' in the month of April and everything else. Job's reet, cracked it.

Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
quotequote all
gazza285 said:
As an alternative, you could buy a die nut and rethread a slightly larger screw.
Thanks gazza285. I'd looked at this but some problems arose. The right die nuts are available but that's from the 'States with the consequent outrageous postage. I also spoke to a bloke who makes specials in S/S for a living and even he can't get blanks for threading in No,6 size. And then, larger screws tend to have a larger head than I could accommodate and the existing thread would have to be lathed off and I don't have a lathe.

As you see, I can do research but now I've found some suitable screws, I'm sorted.

Grateful thanks to all who contributed, I appreciate your input.

gazza285

9,810 posts

208 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
quotequote all
Trenchard said:
Thanks gazza285. I'd looked at this but some problems arose. The right die nuts are available but that's from the 'States with the consequent outrageous postage. I also spoke to a bloke who makes specials in S/S for a living and even he can't get blanks for threading in No,6 size. And then, larger screws tend to have a larger head than I could accommodate and the existing thread would have to be lathed off and I don't have a lathe.

As you see, I can do research but now I've found some suitable screws, I'm sorted.

Grateful thanks to all who contributed, I appreciate your input.
You would be surprised what can be achieved with a drill, a file and an angle grinder...

Trenchard

Original Poster:

303 posts

28 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
quotequote all
gazza285 said:
You would be surprised what can be achieved with a drill, a file and an angle grinder...
Well possibly. However, the club supremo who's letting me play with the gun pre-purchase is an MSc Eng. That'd be a hanging offence in his book!


Edited by Trenchard on Saturday 7th May 22:18