Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Receiver screw backed out

The only screw in the picture has backed out and actually worn a grove (gouged out) in the stock. I note a mark (an index mark?) on the receiver. The screw head appears to require a special tool. I do not have a such type special tool but I was able to screw it in with my finger.

How do I adjust this screw and keep it from backing out?

Firing pin retainer screw. No special tool needed, just a small straight-slot screwdriver (unless the screw slot is buggered up).

I suppose you could put some blue loctite on the threads or even stake it after its snugged up. I haven't seen one come loose before.

That's the hammer bushing screw and they normally have a screwdriver slot in them. I did have one in my parts lot that did not though. I thought it was a manufacturing flaw.

Looks like yours may have had a slot cut in it in place? It should just take a normal screwdriver to tighten it.

A good low strength thread locker is clear finger nail polish. Good for scope mount screws too.

The slot was buggered up. Not anymore and it snugs up and is flush with the receiver.

Another question; Can the screw be removed entirely for cleaning/application of thread locker? Hopefully there is nothing under the screw that will fly out?

Note to self: Use magnification.

You can remove screws easily with nail polish. I learned this 40 years ago in my gunsmith books.

There is a tiny hammer retractor spring in there that will likely fall out if you remove the screw. It's important to the firing pin function so watch for it.

I was wondering why/how the action had become so hard to cycle all of a sudden. All is well now.

Thanks for all the information and tips!

I have seen several of these that were staked from the factory. Sometimes the screw head was upset with a center punch and sometimes the surrounding material was upset into the screw slot. I'll try to get some pics when this merry go round slows down just a little.

Here is one of each type of staking