Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing stripped screw on a Rem 700 scope base hole

I was able to remove the screw, but there are two threads that are gone on the scope base screw and the screw has a section that is bright silver color. Is the base hole ruined? Can I buy a bottom tap and clean up the threads and remove any left over screw thread material and purchase a new screw to tighten down? Are some screws just softer than others? It was a leupold base and the torx screws. Any comments are appreciated.

You can use a bottom tap to clean up the hole. New screws can be had from Brownels. And some screws are softer than others, I would say if it was a Leupold screw then it's not soft. Are you talking about the windage a just ment screw on the base?

If you can't bring the hole back...Brownell's make a slightly oversized screw for just that purpose. Kit comes w/tap and extra screws. powdr

OP said in his post said 2 treads are gone, still can clean up the hole and use longer screws

gemby, a lotta things are going to happen before he gets that base screwed back down tight. powdr

If it's the front base screw he can't use a longer screw as the barrel is there. OP needs to give us more information.

I read the OP as 2 threads from the screw were left in the hole, hence the question about cleaning up the hole... If that's the case, a bottom tap should clean it up fine I would think. Just go slow and careful to keep the tap straight.

If it was my rifle I might say 8-40.