stuck floor plate screw mauser

[jeeptim]

Hey guys got this bruno mauser don't know so much about it except 8mm chec shoots really well. Lil beat up but nothing I can't deal with. Now when I got it on the top of the action the bluing was some what removed with some type of fluid looked odd now that I'm getting around to taking it apart I see the last owner could not get the floor plate off either looks like he used some harsh penitrating fluid that ran down while it was upside down.
Its the front floor plate screw its not stripped yet put visegrips on a screwdriver tapped with a brass hammer. Tryed snugging it up nothing zero movment. Now if I drill the head off get it apart I am afraid the screw may brake then I'm drilling tapping easy outs.
Any ideas????????

 

[rcmodel]

1. Find a properly fitting gunsmith screwdriver bitt.
2. Insert it in the screw slot.
3. Then, whack it several times with a ball-peen hammer!

Usually, the vibration will jar the threads loose and it will come out.

If that fails?
1. Chuck the screwdriver bitt in a drill press.
2. Then have someone help you hold the rifle.
3. Or clamp and shim it level in a drill-press vice.
4. Then use the drill press to hold down on the driver bitt and keep it from slipping, while you turn the screw out with the chuck & key for leverage.

It might also have Lock-Tight or glass bedding compound gluing it in the receiver too.
In that case?
1. Use a small torch tip to heat the screw head HOT real quick.
2. Then take it out.

I would resort to drilling only as a last resort.
Tread taps for Mauser receivers ain't cheap!!

rc

 

[LAGS]

@ Jeeptim
What model of Brno mauser is it ?
And I take it you are talking about the front action screw that holds the magazine box bottom metal on the the receiver, and you cant take off the receiver from the stock.
Your best bet since you cant use heat without ruining your stock, is to clamp the rifle up side down in a Vise, and use the proper width screwdriver and like you were doing, use vise grips to turn the screwdriver, while you tap on the end of the screwdriver.
Now, this isnt a Military model with Locking screws on the action screws , is it ?
But if the method I suggested wont break it loose, then the screw will probably break off.
But rather than breaking the screw off, I would opt to drill off the head of the screw first.
That way you may save the shank of the screw sticking out of the receiver and have something better to look at and drill for using an easy out, after it is heated and cooled.
But if the screw breaks, there is no way an easy out will work with out the heat first.
That means the screw is probably Bottomed out against the receiver and rusted or Mushrooming is fouling the threads.

You can always start off by drilling the center of the screw with a small drill down thru the head and into the shank, but you will need to know you are going perfectly straight to do that.

 

[jeeptim]

Well got the screw driver and bits gonna try whacking a time or two if no luck ill toss it on the drill press and give it a chuck. Thanks RC.

 

[rcmodel]

Your best bet since you cant use heat without ruining your stock,

Sure you can.

Protect the stock with a wet shop towel, and heat the screw head fast (but not the trigger guard) with a small torch tip like I said.

The stock & trigger guard will never know what happened!!

rc

 

[jeeptim]

Lags
Thanx you this is not my first rodeo with frozen nuts bolts and screws I have all the proper tools and yes it has the locking screw and yes its removed. With all I have done its about a 90% chance it will break without heat just want to make sure I have enough to work with once I get it apart. Will give you a heads up tomorrow

 

[jeeptim]

WOO HOO!!!
10:30pm just getting into bed thought I have one of those hand held wack with a hammer impact driver haven't used it in years lets give it a wack. Out in the garage in my slippers and pjs. Got it apart all good except the entire underside thickly coated in cosmoline yep another project.
Thanx for all the input.

 

[LAGS]

@ jeeptim
Pj's and slippers, Hmmm. Too much information, but have been there myself.
I would have suggestet one of those, but not everyone has one, and do they still make the Hand Impact Drivers.
Someone liked mine better than I did, and it has disapeared.
But I am glad you got it apart.
RC is correct about the Heat from a torch, but I am reluctant to suggest things that can go wrong so easily.
I have been chastized several times on this forum for overestimating other peoples abilities with out knowing the whole story.

 

[LAGS]

@ jeeptim
Before you reassemble your rifle.
Check that the screw tightens down the action Before it Bottoms out in the hole against the receiver.
That is one reason they put the lock screws on those models, so the action was tight, and it didn't have to rely on the tension against the stock to stay tight.