Questions about tools.

[Viking357]

I am looking at buying tools to work on my guns. I have some old rickety stuff that doesn't fit right and need some advice on what to buy. Brownells seems to be the Go-To place. What are your thoughts.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Buy the best you can afford, Wheelers makes an excellent screwdriver set that should fit about anything you run across. I bought mine through Amazon as well as a Power custom trigger fixture. Brownels has a huge selection as well, guess it depends on what you plan to do.

 

[hdbiker]

complete set of gunsmith screw drivers, scope ring lapping set, bore slighter set, dial caliper, for a few. ...hdbiker

 

[beag_nut]

Brownells it is.

 

[George P]

Buy the best you can afford, Wheelers makes an excellent screwdriver set that should fit about anything you run across. I bought mine through Amazon as well as a Power custom trigger fixture. Brownels has a huge selection as well, guess it depends on what you plan to do.

SOME of Wheeler's stuff is great, some is cheap Chinese - you need to read the descriptions to find out which is which

 

[Zerodefect]

I use:
Dewalt screwdrivers
Brass punches
Glock plastic pin tool
MIP Allen drivers
Wheeler AR upper vise holder


Standard Olde AR wrench
Larue Barrel nut tool
1/2'' Snap On Ratchet, long handle
JP bore guide
Dewey rod. (3/32" iirc)
AR magazine block for putting entire rifle in vice
Assorted levels
Mitoya calipers. (Japan)
Jennings Machine and Tool sight pusher

 

[BBBBill]

How many different types of guns do you have and what do you plan to do to them? Answer that and it will help guide your tool selection process. If you only work on S&W revolvers and only then to clean then you won't need much. If you have different beands of revolvers, semi auto pistols, bolt rifles, semi rifles, shotguns, etc and you want to do full disassembly including removing threaded in barrel then you will need much more.

Brownell's is the best place to buy, but careful shopping can get you a better price on some things elsewhere. As stated, do not buy cheap. A poorly fitting screwdriver blade will chew up a screw. A blade that breaks will damage the receiver.

 

[Kp321]

I was a gunsmith for 40+ years and leaned some lessons on tools along the way. We all have the tendency to go cheap at first then wake up and buy the right stuff. The right stuff being Brownells screwdriver set, Starrett pin punches, Starrett micrometers and Brown and Sharp dial calipers. if you plan to do any drilling and tapping on receivers, save your pennies and buy the Forester jig. It will pay for itself in one job versus screwing up an action.

 

[wiscoaster]

I'd suggest just buying what you need when you need it, so that you don't end up with a bunch of tools you don't use. "Sets" of tools always have too much of something and always lack the one thing you need.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The big Brownells Magna Bit set should probably be your first purchase. I have used all the bits in there a lot of times. I do find I replace them often though. Just bought 4 that I had been procrastinating on.

I use them for guns a lot but I also work on industrial sewing machines and they have mostly slotted fillister head screws just like guns.

The next thing to get is a vise. A general machinists vise is good enough for most tasks but a gunsmiths multi vise can increase options a bit.

Scope mounting tools are also a must have. A lapping kit for 1” and/or 30mm, torque instrument for the base and ring screws and a bore sighted if you do guns that you cannot see through the bore easily. Also a good set of torx and hex bits with regular or T-handles for snugging the scope screws up and loosening them.

Trigger pull gauge

Warrington pattern hammers or another type of smaller hammers. 4, 8, 12 oz.

Dead blow hammer

Non marring hammer. Some come with changeable faces for brass, differing hardnesses of plastic, leather, wood, etc.

Brass punches

Steel punches

Roll pin punches.

Bench Mat

Bench Block

Depending on what you are doing you may need more or less than this.

 

[Viking357]

A big thanks to everyone who replied, I decided to go with a Wheelers screwdriver set, punch set and a Wheeler trigger pull gauge. This is what I could afford at this time.