Buggered up screws in new Ruger 22/45?

Before you drill them out, If they're that soft, you can get in there with a small sharp tool like a scribe and try to cut new slots in the screws and try to get another bite on them. Might work after they've soaked. It'd have to be pretty soft metal and it'd be tedious but I've done it in the past.

Those little 8-40 or 8-32 headless screws are quite fragile; I've busted a couple by twisting off one side of the slot with very little force.

I suggest an oil soak as you're doing, a fine scribe (or a pointed probe of some kind) and try to gently drive the remaining slot side around in the CCW direction. Maybe a bit of tapping with a screwdriver handle to get it loose. This has always worked fit me; since sort of magnification helps.

If not, you'll need to Left Hand drill and EZOut.

Soak 'em in Kroil or Ed's Red. Heck, even straight ATF works in lots of cases.

I doubt that Ruger used any Loctite on them, but I guess it's possible. In that case a soldering gun with a narrow pointed tip applied to the remains of the screw head might help.

Then there's always the mother ship.

BBBBill said:

Then there's always the mother ship.

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I dunno. . . Ruger returns any gun they receive for work to the original configuration. If it shipped with filler screws, do you think they'd be able to return it to you without filler screws?

"...without filler screws?..." Nope, but the damaged screws will be out.
"...headless screws are quite fragile..." And soft. Most likely cross threaded and probably put in by a robot. Not that it helps. You won't cut new slots with a scribe either.
"...How do you drill out screws this small?..." With a drill press. Try a slightly bigger screw driver first.

You must use hollow ground screw drivers on these little screws. On any gun screw really. They make full contact across the entire screw by having flat sides versus tapered sides. One try with a hardware store screwdriver and say goodbye.

My Rugers (Mark III and IV) have come with cheap filler screws. I replaced them with the better "mushroomed and domed" filler screws that are available for a few cents at Ace Hardware. Get enough so that you can select them so that the slots line up.

Charliefrank said:

You must use hollow ground screw drivers on these little screws. On any gun screw really. They make full contact across the entire screw by having flat sides versus tapered sides. One try with a hardware store screwdriver and say goodbye.

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^^^^^ Yep!

1KPerDay said:

Got them out. Kroil plus a fresh bit plus a sharp twist of the wrist popped them. Thanks all for the help.

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Kroil is some good stuff!

If a screw doesn't seem to want to come out.....some judicial tapping on the driver handle while applying increasing torque will often get them to move when straight twisting would not. The shock makes the bit bite a little harder and something about the impacts gets a fastener to let loose easier. I've twisted off bolts with a breaker bar....then went to the impact gun and zipped the rest out without damage. Kind of amazing actually.

I know the problem is now solved, but don't those screws go all the way through to the receiver? If you stripped them trying to drive them out, You would still have something to bit to of you tried driving them in and through. Right?