This is my own rifle in 8mm Mauser. Got it a while back, but didn’t have chance to look at it and get it ready to test fire. I have a really hard time undoing the front action screw (guard screw). Kroil oil and impact drive and everything, but it is still not budging. The other 2 screws came out just fine. Did I miss something? I’m ready to drill it out.
BTW, it is just an ordinary M6 bolt with a funny head. One that has a groove all around to accommodate spring wire “clip” to keep the screw from loosening. Chances are this wire clip has gone bad and keeps the bolt from turning. From the condition of the screw head, I think the previous owner tried but failed to get it loose. -TL
I don’t believe you missed anything. Use a small burr and recut the slot, make a screw driver or a tip for your impact driver fit really well and keep at it. Ken
Follow up info
The slots, in a cross pattern, are still in reasonable shape. They start to deform under the torqueing pressure of the impact drive, but they are not yet stripped. The screw just refused to turn even when I took out the big hammer to drive the impact drive.
Alright I will keep on it for a few more days. Then I will whip out the drill. I was in a similar situation a few years ago with an Arisaka T99 that hadn’t been opened since it left the Japanese factory. The action screw refuses to turn. I eventually drilled their heads out. Their shanks were rusted in the receiver. Kroil applied to the head could never reach the shank. Vice grip took care the problem after the action opened up.
Thanks Ken. -TL
Reply
OK, I did it again. Patience is not really my best virtue. After soaking the screw head with kroil for 3 days and failing to observe any hint of movement, I drilled it out. But this time a bit of regret set in when it was done. The screw head was indeed firmly rusted in the recess in the trigger guard. That was what had stopped it from turning. The stem was fine in the receiver. All soaking and impact driving has only loosened up a small part of the binding. It was possible though I could have loosened it up if I gave it another 10 days or so.
Now I am one action screw short. I thought it was ordinary M6x1 thread, but I was wrong. It is M6x0.75 which is a pita to find. Life moves on. I will find that screw. -TL
