Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 8-40 Base Screws

Is this a do it yourself project? I bought a Post 64 Magnum Long Action and got it back from my gunsmith. When I went to mount my bases one of the screw holes is stripped. That was the last thing I thought to check when I bought the gun for a donor.

Brownells has "oversized" 6-48 screws and a tap for them. The tap is pricey. I think they work pretty good but I have no actual experience with them. Thanks...Bill.

Really hard to say from here. Some people are naturally good at machining operations and others have problems with common household tasks. Thing is, it can get expensive if you screw it up. Spending a few bucks with your gunsmith may be a wise investment.

I changed the receiver threads to 8x40 on a Rem 700 receiver over the weekend. This particular action was tough as hell to tap. I broke a tap in the number 3 hole which, had I not been thinking several steps ahead, could have been disastrous, but the hole was centered under my milling machines quill which made removing the broken piece a breeze. Yes, I can still break a tap with the best of 'em!

Hint, if you are going to do it yourself, don't be tempted to free hand it. Use at a minimum, a drill press, and center the hole under the quill, use a center in a chuck to guide the tap straight in. Or better yet, hire it done and let the gunsmith sweat it.

+1 on the "Or better yet, hire it done and let the gunsmith sweat it." If you don't you'll probably wind up spending $50 to save $20, then have to spend the $20 anyway for a total of $70.

Malm, in your opinion, why was that particular action so hard? You sure you didn't, by mistake, grab a dull tap? (BTDT)

I am fairly confident I could do it. I do a little bit of machining where I work, but I think this one if better left for the professionals. I have broke a few taps in my day and in this instance I don't want to deal with that. Thanks for all the input.

I'm pretty sure it was dull by the 3rd hole. It was a little tough to drill as well. An early 60's model 700.

Not to be a smart alleck, but if you have the tools and experience to tap small holes, you'll have already come up with your answer, if you have to ask advice, you might want to pay a professional to do it.

It's one of those famous 5 minute jobs, when everything goes right...

No intent on highjacking the thread...but as I have a similar problem, it made me wonder what would be a typical/reasonable cost to have a good smith change to the 8-40 screws. Thanks.

You'll be in the neighborhood of $60-65..

You did say, 'good', right?

And after the holes are done in the rifle, you will have to have a base or bases to match.

Redneck did mine and I am very pleased.

Leftybolt

Ya think?

Yes Sir...always been willing to pay a little more to have it done "right" the 1st time. Muy Gracias for the cost info.

I do, but I'm sure not all of us do. How about you? Have you given it a try lately?

It hardly seems up front to quote a guy a price on a job and yet not tell him that the quote only covers part of what needs to be done. Unless of course $60 would cover opening the holes in the action and modifying a base or bases by enlarging the screw holes and the recessess for the screw heads. If that is the case, the mentioned price is more than fair.

The gunsmith is being hired to open them to 8-40's not provide new bases or modify bases.It isn't hard to find bases that take 8-40's these days.

Given what a try lately??

The original question by MO2AZ was what a fair/average charge for changing the receiver screw holes to 8/40.. I didn't say that's what I charged, nor was anyone asked by the same poster regarding anything to do with bases..

Chill out my man...

I charge $15.00 per hole so $60.00 is pretty close , at least at my place ! Some customers I wouldn't charge to do the bases , some I would !