Screw size info for you

Help Support Ruger Forum:

crow#2

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Messages
414
Location
Mooreland Indiana
I found this screw size tool at the hardware. They have several drawers of screws labeled gun screws.I just got a few not cheap. And this gauge.Yes the holes are threaded with appropriate size
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20240306_123720.jpg
    IMG_20240306_123720.jpg
    116.5 KB · Views: 81
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
4,450
Location
Lemont, PA, USA 16851
Now you're thinking like a guy who wants to work on his own guns and do it the right way (no bubbaing)

I have one of these in both SAE and Metric. Have had them for many years. They are indispensable when working on old, odd or foreign firearms.

 

loaded round

Hunter
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Messages
2,264
Location
Valley Forge, Pa
The Brownell's Screw Chek'r works perfectly and is a great tool. I've also had mine for over 10 years and it's been a lifesaver more than several times when I've had to replace a lost screw.
 

crow#2

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Messages
414
Location
Mooreland Indiana
Boy am i ever behind times. I thought i found something.
I bet that screw checker you mentioned is a very nice tool to have.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
4,450
Location
Lemont, PA, USA 16851
It makes things a lot easier when you have a screw or screws that you don't know the size. Way back when, gun makers used some (my opinion) really odd size screws. But they probably weren't odd sized for them. Then as time went on, sizes and threads were standardized (think SAE and such) so it made things easier.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
4,450
Location
Lemont, PA, USA 16851
What do you do if you have a tapped hole but no screw to fit it.

If you have a tap and die set, estimate the size and try putting the tap in it to see it if fits or not. And there are also thread gauges that are made for very small holes to find the size.

Google "Small hole thread gauge" and you'll find them, Amazon has a bunch of different sets/styles

This set ^^^^ has both standard and metric gauges
 
Last edited:

NikA

Buckeye
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Messages
1,832
Location
Yrisarri, NM- high in the Manzanos
My method would be to use pin gages to determine the approximate minor diameter and thread pitch gages to determine the pitch. Should be able to work out the correct thread dimensions from there. But then again I have 2+ drawers dedicated to thread measuring and cutting.

Screw checkers are a fine entry level tool but don't cover nearly enough cases to be useful for a pro encountering diverse thread types. They'd be most useful to sort a large number of screws of a limited number of known sizes.
 
Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Messages
549
Location
Flat Rock, NC
There are screw sizes and there are thread pitch variations. Common screws for firearms are 6-48. I have seen 6-40, 8-32, 8-40, 5-40. I've even see 1/4-20, and 1/4-28. I have seen a whole passel of metric sizes too.
 

KIR

Sparks, NV
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Messages
1,756
My Ace Hardware has a basement where one can find screws for any holes, particularly for guns. Give them a call and see if they have a department like that.
 

Latest posts

Top