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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1 |
Looking to upgrade my "budget" B-Square set of gunsmith bits and screwdriver handle with something of solid quality. The B-Square is okay for light work but the smallest flat blade bent the corners without even trying and even the torx drive bit is now sort of spiral looking from not that much torque.
Would prefer one driver handle and then assorted bits, not three dozen separate handled tools. Not sure how extensive a set I'd need, more than 20 and less than 200, but with so much Chinese junque on the market I'm mostly looking for a good brand name recommendation and then I can pick from what all they offer.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 10,365
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 10,365 |
Brownells hands down, bits are guaranteed for life. Sizes to fit any slotted screws, plus hex, torx, phillips, square, and many others. Cost is what you order, they have starter kits and master kits.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984 |
Brownells hands down, bits are guaranteed for life. Sizes to fit any slotted screws, plus hex, torx, phillips, square, and many others. Cost is what you order, they have starter kits and master kits. Yep.
Kelly
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1 |
+1 Brownells hands down, bits are guaranteed for life. Sizes to fit any slotted screws, plus hex, torx, phillips, square, and many others. Cost is what you order, they have starter kits and master kits.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 948
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 948 |
keep your receipt when you order, I have stuff from before they went computerized in the 1980s and they give me a hard time on occasions. Mel Chung
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085 |
I have the Wheeler Gunsmithing Screwdriver set..There are eight individual blade widths,and each blade width has from 6 to 9 individual blade thickness. Plus 8 different sizes of hes heads, three torque heads, 4 philips head, and two driver handles.
Firearms screws are usually buggered up by the wrong blade width and the wrong blade thickness.With this set,you can match to perfection.
Far outweigh Brownells
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,970
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,970 |
i've got a chapman gun screw driver kit that has worked well for many years.
Ed
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206 |
A Brownells set for the bench and a Chapman set for the range bag.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,043
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,043 |
I have the Wheeler Gunsmithing Screwdriver set..There are eight individual blade widths,and each blade width has from 6 to 9 individual blade thickness. Plus 8 different sizes of hes heads, three torque heads, 4 philips head, and two driver handles.
Firearms screws are usually buggered up by the wrong blade width and the wrong blade thickness.With this set,you can match to perfection.
Far outweigh Brownells I have a Wheeler set as well, however, the handle I have is not magnetized, which I wish it had. Otherwise, I have no complaints about the bits.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,085 |
I have the Wheeler Gunsmithing Screwdriver set..There are eight individual blade widths,and each blade width has from 6 to 9 individual blade thickness. Plus 8 different sizes of hes heads, three torque heads, 4 philips head, and two driver handles.
Firearms screws are usually buggered up by the wrong blade width and the wrong blade thickness.With this set,you can match to perfection.
Far outweigh Brownells I have a Wheeler set as well, however, the handle I have is not magnetized, which I wish it had. Otherwise, I have no complaints about the bits. You can buy a magnetized stud that fits on your handle and the bits will fit in it. Home Depot or mos any place like that will carry them. Even Harbor Frieght
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
I have the Brownell's kit also that I just bought about a year ago after wearing out my cheap Midway set. I like it a lot but I wish I had ordered a few of the bits that complete the set. The bits that came with the "NRA Approved" set work fine and do 99% of what I need, but once in awhile I need a tip the set didn't come with. I substitute my Midway bits as they are all 1/4" hex size and fit the handle, but they just aren't made as well as the Brownell's units.
Bob
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,043
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,043 |
Thanks, Saddlesore. I actually bought another handle, but will look for the stud you are talking about so that handle doesn't just sit there.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910 |
What kit are you guys buying off Brownells? I do not see any branded to just them.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
This is the set I got. Works great but I would pick up the additional bits to complete the set and may still when I have time to go over their list of bit completer sets. http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...a-tip-sets/magna-tip-sets-prod41571.aspx
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,244 Likes: 10
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,244 Likes: 10 |
Brownells set is hard to beat.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697 |
I use a Wheeler FAT wrench, but with the Brownells Magna-Tip bits. Brownells also sells a handy storage box for the bits for about $10.
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 886
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 886 |
I tried them all but nothing is as nice or complete as the deluxe Brownells set. The Seekonk Precision Tools 1 to 75 inch pounds torque wrench is by far the best torque wrench for gunsmithing we have ever tried and I own a bunch of different ones some that cost 3 times as much.
"Hired Gun" Quickest and fastest all motor sand car on the planet. 3.008 at 104.8 300' of sand.
NRA Patron Life Member, Gunsmith, Instructor, Chief RSO
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488 |
I prefer Forster screwdrivers. I first bought a Chapman set many years ago but I don't like anything with a chuck (is that the right word---can't come up with anything else). I've marred the finish on the backside of a Ruger single-action trigger guard removing the screws using the Chapman, but never with the Forsters.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
The Forsters are very nice, but I've found they are really difficult to find any more. Also, their sets aren't as complete as the Brownell's sets, IMHO.
Bob
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 623
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 623 |
Chapman's used to be good. Haven't bought any since the '80s though. My last "refill" was with Brownells' bits. I have twisted a couple of Franklin bits. They're fairly soft.
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