This is my pet peeve about the Italian guns, especially Ubertis. Screws made from cheese and over torqued at the factory. I haven't had the problem with Pietta, but on my Uberti 1866 and 1873 Sporting Rifles. I should not have to drill out screws on my mill to disassemble them. AFAIC, if you buy an Uberti lever action you should factor in the need to replace at least some of the screws with a properly hardened set from VTI Gun Parts.
(Yes, I have properly fitting gunsmith screwdrivers and lots of Kroil. Those screws would not budge.)
Any idea where we can get proper, harden screws for Uberti 1858 New Army, Target, stainless, I just purchased brand new one. Also, I had noticed that nipples on it aren't from stainless, but from one of carbon steel alloys and finished in black. Should I replace them with stainless or bronze (?) ones?
Hand impact driver is the trick. Guarantee I could have popped them right out with it. Have to use it on almost every screw of a new Uberti rifle. Works every single time I've never drilled one out or messed up the screw using it. I used to mess up screws and cuss like mad until I learned that trick. A friend of mine even brought one over a while back that he had almost completely stripped the head out of a couple screws on a 73 and we popped them right out in one lick. He brought it over thinking we were going to have to drill them out on my mill.
If you are happy with hand impact driver you have, would you please let us know manufacturer and model, and where it could be purchased.
Thanks to both of you.