Stripped allen head, 226 adjustable sights.

starbuck · November 21, 2012, 09:47

There are two allen head set screws in the rear sights used to adjust windage. They were really stuck when I bought the gun used and only one would come out. The other just slipped with the allen wrench. They are tiny. How can I get it out? I'm thinking if I can get it out I'll just drill and tap them for bigger set screws.

Thanks

**gunplumber** · November 21, 2012, 18:22

take a punch and slightlycave in the edges of the socket in the screw head. Then take an allen key that is a separate screwdriver bit, place over the hole and rap it with a hammer. This will re-swage the hole.

Allen keys wear and have to be ground down occasionally to get to a sharp section.

If moderate pressure still doesn't move it, then take a soldering iron and heat the screw - it is possible someone locktited it.

If these fail consider the same technique with a torx bit that is a hair larger than the hex hole. Drill it out only as a last resort, and even then there is no need to drill out the sight to a larger size, you can drill just the minor diameter of the screw then clear out the slag with a tap.

**L Haney** · November 21, 2012, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunplumber

If these fail consider the same technique with a torx bit that is a hair larger than the hex hole.

Use a new one, or touch it up on the grinder to get to the sharp splines. This has saved my ass more than once. Tap it in with a small hammer and make sure it goes in straight.

FUUN063 · November 25, 2012, 21:14

Or, go to the very next size up in Metric (or Inch size if the existing screw is already metric) and drive it in as suggested by GP. This will form a new slightly larger hex in the screw. After doing this, I would also suggest the use of a soldering iron to soften or loosen possible Loc-Tite. Even if none was used, the heat will help to break any bond that has taken by crud and gunk over the years.

Leland

November 21, 2012, 09:47	#1
starbuck Registered FALaholic #: 26466 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 710	Stripped allen head, 226 adjustable sights. There are two allen head set screws in the rear sights used to adjust windage. They were really stuck when I bought the gun used and only one would come out. The other just slipped with the allen wrench. They are tiny. How can I get it out? I'm thinking if I can get it out I'll just drill and tap them for bigger set screws. Thanks __________________ In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. Last edited by starbuck; November 21, 2012 at 11:54.

November 21, 2012, 18:22	#2
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 15,925	take a punch and slightlycave in the edges of the socket in the screw head. Then take an allen key that is a separate screwdriver bit, place over the hole and rap it with a hammer. This will re-swage the hole. Allen keys wear and have to be ground down occasionally to get to a sharp section. If moderate pressure still doesn't move it, then take a soldering iron and heat the screw - it is possible someone locktited it. If these fail consider the same technique with a torx bit that is a hair larger than the hex hole. Drill it out only as a last resort, and even then there is no need to drill out the sight to a larger size, you can drill just the minor diameter of the screw then clear out the slag with a tap. __________________ T. Mark Graham Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

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November 25, 2012, 21:14	#4
FUUN063 Computer Illiterate Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 35576 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Converse, Indiana Posts: 4,684	Or, go to the very next size up in Metric (or Inch size if the existing screw is already metric) and drive it in as suggested by GP. This will form a new slightly larger hex in the screw. After doing this, I would also suggest the use of a soldering iron to soften or loosen possible Loc-Tite. Even if none was used, the heat will help to break any bond that has taken by crud and gunk over the years. Leland