Brownell's ( what kit)? Grace?? I need a set. I hate buggered screws, and on guns, the torque needs to be at the bottom of the slot for sure

Thanks

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I bought GRACE BROTHERS hollow ground screw drivers from Brownell's in 1979 after I finished with S&W armorers school and I still have them.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Buy once, cry once, I suggest you get the big Brownell's set. It's a nice set, and always great to have a bit that fits perfect, no matter what I'm working on.... I've got three different handles, the long one, stubby, and "armorer's" length. I use the armorer's length the most.

I also have a set from Grace that I keep in my range bag. They are good, but not nearly as nice as having the large Brownell's set.

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NRA Life Member

Good tools do a better job and make life easier. Good tools are also expensive, but should be thought of as an investment, not just an expense.

I've had good luck with my Wheeler set.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Agreed. That is what my son the mechanic tells me with 70K in snap on tools

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Sure I have chipped a tip or 2 (while not using them on guns), BUT their free, no questions asked replacement guarantee (for life) is about the best I have ever used. An American made corp is a bonus. No doubt there are better. Never thought using the correct tool for the job, & a good fit could be so nice.

Pete,

Is this the information that you need?

58 Bit Master Set Plus w/ #81 Handle : BROWNELLS MAGNA-TIP SUPER SETS™ | Brownells

I ordered the Master Set Plus with the #81 Handle. One of my best investments yet! Brownell's is offering 10% off today on orders > $99.00, with free shipping.

Bill

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That's what we do!

i will look today...........Thanks

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Purchased! 4.9 user rating on 71 reviews. Thanks

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Congrats, you'll live that set; money well spent...!

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NRA Life Member

I believe so

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I purchased a Brownells super set in the early 80's and have never looked back. Getting old so I forget to take it to gun shows and the range si I found one on fleabay and it is a fixture in My range bag. The best set ever and worth every penny. Especially when You look at the screws You just took out and put back in.

The handles to have are the "law enforcement" size, either the regular or the new compact model.
These are the perfect size for good control. The standard big handle puts you too far away from the screw to have good control, and the "stubby" handle is just too short.

Buy a LE handle in magnetic retention and another in the C-clip retention. You'll have need for both.

BROWNELLS LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDLES | Brownells

As above, you only have to buy a Brownell's bit once. Damage or break it and just email them to get a new bit shipped FREE.

The Wheeler set is usable, but it's Chinese made and nowhere near the quality of the American made Brownell's set.

I use Grace and a 70's vintage Chapman set.

I keep the same set in my range bag.

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" I don't recall, senator."

I have a DVD from AGI on the S&W revolver. I was shocked that the instructor, Ken Brooks, did not use hollow ground tip screwdrivers.

Should I burn that DVD ?

For S&W revolver side plate screws get the brownells 4 in combo 080-087-004WB or just the bit set 080-087-002WB.

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DRB #2276

I also bought the big set from Brownells in the 1980s. I have never broken a bit and I have used them pretty hard at times.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Grace is OK but not as good as Brownell's Magna-tips IMHO. Had both and sold the Grace. The Brownells are more precision ground, stronger and are under free replacement warranty for life - no need to send in broken bit, just call Brownell's. The Brownells bits are also available in more sizes and configurations and can be inserted into many different handles. The "Law Enforcement" magnetic style handle is by far the best IMO.

They have many sets available as well as a specific 4 or 5 piece set for S&W Revolvers, but the larger sets are what many here buy. While I could be mistakes, I believe the Brownell's bits are manufactured by Apex in America and are the finest quality bits available at any price as far as I am concerned. I've been an Apex customer and user for 40 years and they are the best! Even their Phillips bits last forever and I used them commercially for 40 years!

Below is part of the ones I have (some are in my Range Bag, some in my Tool Pouch and a specific set aboard my Motorcycle). Most of what is in this draw is at least 20 -30 years old and some are even 40! I also have another tool box draw that contains brand new "back-up bits that have never been used as of yet.

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What chief38 said!

I had to look this one up so that I can belly up to the bar with "The Big Dogs" around here. "Hollow ground" screwdriver tips are the ones that gunsmiths use. Most, if not all, other screw drivers tips are tapered up from the tip. "Hollow ground" tips are not.

I'm a big Craftsman tool guy ("Tim The Tool Man Taylor" vintage) from the 50s. I incorrectly thought that my Craftsman tools would do the job with my firearms. Big mistake! After I buggered one or two screws I was off to Brownells.

All of the firearm screws have both a width and thickness requirement. The Brownells set has all of the combinations that I need, not only for my firearm maintenance, but also for grip screws, and for azimuth and elevation adjustments at the range.

Bill

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That's what we do!

Yes you should!!!

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I have wanted hollow grounds forever. No idea why I never bought them, and yes I have @%$**)+! screw heads. My own fault!

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I have Chapman gun kit. I love them long time.


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Well, my set from Brownell's showed up today. Kind of like a kit. 2 handles, a bag of bits, and a box. At least I do not need tools to assemble it

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Why? Did you buy the DVD to learn screwdriver etiquette?

I've talked to Ken about this. You don't notice that the tips have been ground so the screwdriver does fit the screws. Plus, the guns shown are demo guns and have been disassembled and reassembled by novices and for demos on a regular basis, none of the screws is tight enough to be an issue.

You might also consider the guy has been doing this for more than three decades, most of it as a S&W warranty center. If screwdrivers were an issue for him, he'd change in a heartbeat.

But, if you're doing a few guns as a hobby, or even small time gunsmithing, you're going to be safer with a hollow ground set. If you order the AGI full course with the tools, you get sent a Grace screwdriver set.

Jeff

Grace's are good, Chapman's are good, and they have a REALLY good instruction sheet, but the most complete set of bits with the best warranty are sold by Brownell. For guns, all of these are good, as long as you use the right bit or driver. This is easiest to do with Brownell.

Many gun nuts use screwdrivers for purposes unrelated to guns. My wife and I once took a trip south in search of a different domicile, with limited space for personal possessions. My complete Brownell set (including British shotguns and such) took up very little space, and came in handy for a number of essential household functions.

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Formerly Model520Fan

Grace are the drivers I grab first.
I have the Brownell's Magna-Tip set with dozens of tips.
It gets used only when I need to grind a tip or (rarely) one of my Grace drivers won't fit.
After years of use, I broke the tip on my Grace #5 and nice folks sent me a replacement gratis.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I've had a Wheeler 89 pc set for a couple years. It hasn't seen a lot of use, mostly S&W sideplate and strain screws, but several bits have already twisted, and the finish of the bits does not appear to be ground, but rather simply as cast. I examined them under a loupe, and can see that the face of the tip that bottoms in the screw slot is not sharp, flat and square, but kind of wavy and rounded. I looked closer at the label in the case - surprise, surprise - made in China. The bits are junk, warranty is only ONE YEAR, so I can't return them, or I would. I do like the handles very much, finding the slightly soft grippy surface suits my hand better than the hard plastic of the Brownell's set.
I guess I'll go buy a stock of Brownell's bits and hope they fit the Wheeler handles.

Forgot to add - I've had a Forster set of 8 gunsmith screwdrivers for about 40 years. The tips are still in excellent condition - no chips or twists, but now with arthritis in my hands, I find the handles too small in diameter to get a good grip. That's why I bought the Wheeler set.

You guys dont make this easy.
I've been wanting a set, but had no idea which to pick.
This thread has helped some, as now I'm down to either Brownells or Grace.
Between the 2, I need some why.
This is kinda nuts, it's a freaking screw driver.

Brownells, bits that go into a handle. Grace, handles are part of the screwdriver. Both work, Brownells bits have more variety.

I have both and use both, so I'm not much help in making up your mind.

Jeff

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