Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Fix for Loose Swivel Studs

The reason this and toothpicks are a poor fix is that you wind up with threads in end grain. Filled epoxy is better. For later removal apply heat.

Just my method agreeing with others, for both composite and wood:

1) I clean the sling swivel screw studs and screw holes in the stock thoroughly with lacquer thinner being careful not to involve the surface finish.

2) If POSSIBLE, I take a very small drill - like a 1/16" - and drill a hole or side-channel about 1/4" deep off to an angle being careful not to disfigure the hole opening on the stock. You do not want to eliminate the remaining existing female screw threads.

3) Apply a good release agent to the screw studs.

4) Using a wide piece of tape cover the holes on the stock and carefully gut away an opening in the tape.

5) Using a good, high strength epoxy, fill the holes almost full using a toothpick to force it into all areas of the holes including the new side channel you drilled.

6) Slowly insert and screw in the screw studs, so that as excess epoxy oozes out, you can clean it up - I use Q-tips. When the base of the screw stud is close to being flush with the stock surface, ENSURE THAT YOU STOP WITH THE STUD HOLE ALIGNED IN THE DESIRED POSITION.

7) Let cure completely as per the directions of your particular epoxy. Do NOT mess with it before hand. You are better off to give it excess time.

8) Very carefully unscrew and remove the studs and clean to remove all the release agent.

9) Using a Q-tip clean the screw hole to remove any release agent residue. Use fresh Q-tips to soak up any thinner and dry out the screw hole. Allow ten minutes evaporation to be safe. I do NOT use compressed air as it can force thinner under the tape and on to the stock finish.

10) Remove the tape and reinsert the screws. You should not need any Lock-Tight or any other type of thread lock.

Hope this helps - it has served me well for both types of stocks.

Some careful gentlemen here. Interesting read.