Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Matching an action screwhead

I bought some JP Enterprises action screws to try out on my Sako L579:

[img]https://www.jnpgunsprings.com/SAKO-TRG-ACTION-SCREW-SET-p72243497[/img]

and since I built it with a blind magazine, there's a smaller (#8-32) screw for the front:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/19201517#Post19201517

The one in the picture is a flat head screw that doesn't fit flush. I want an oval head (or maybe, the J&P's are dome heads? Not sure) hex drive , #8-32 (or the closest metric size) machine screw for the front of the trigger guard. Looked in McMasters-Carr, Fastenal and a number of other specialty fastener sites but nothing yet. Am I looking for something non-existent, or does someone offer such a specialized screw?

I'm willing to put some effort to avoid using the original slotted head screws.
Thanks!

How handy are you? Start with a standard hex/torx cap screw or flat head screw and re-contour it to the shape you want. Running it in a drill against a grinder would be one method. A lathe would make it easier. You mentioned the sources I would suggest so can’t help there.

Not sure what you're asking for.

For the 8-32 to fit flush with the trigger guards, I chuck it in my small lathe and simply face it off the amount needed to be flush or a bit below. The edges will be razor sharp at that point so I touch the sides about .010 to give it a flat outside edge. On a blued screw, a bit of cold bluing works great. I also do this on aluminum butt plate screws if needed. On this one, I used button head screws for mounting the plate but the center screw for the weight system is done as described for your trigger guard.

If you're looking for an exact domed head style screw to match the action screws...that's going to be a tough to duplicate. The Allen head screws on a Sako are a great upgrade. I do it on every pillar bedding job unless the owner specifies the original slatted screws be retained.

Hope this helps. -Al

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Take the screw that has the dome profile you like, chuck it up in a drill motor and shape it the way you want it.
You can run a peanut grinder (or Dremel) into it to speed up the process then go finer (read file, 0000 steel wool) and polish it to match your trigger guard.

That's how I'd do it. No need to complicate things.

Another way to do it would be to use a 8-32 button head screw.

Reduce the O.D. to fit the trigger guard recess and either spot face the screw recess in the trigger guard flat, cut a 82 degree angle on the back side of the button head to match the trigger guard angle or leave it and live with the angle-to-flat fit.

Good shootin' -Al