637 grip screws

[edlloyd]

anyone know the proper size wrench/bit for the grip screw on the 637 (and i am assuming other j frames)? i have two different sets of bits and allen wrenches and nothing i have fits it perfectly. thanks

 

[Muss Muggins]

3/32", (or H5223X in my Brownell's kit) . . .

 

[edlloyd]

does the 3/32 have a little bit of play in it? I have one of those 84 piece kits from wheeler and i would think i have a 3/32. the one i am using wiggles slightly in the screw head. the next size up is too big. can never seem to get one that fits hex heads just right. thanks for the answer.

 

[Muss Muggins]

does the 3/32 have a little bit of play in it? I have one of those 84 piece kits from wheeler and i would think i have a 3/32. the one i am using wiggles slightly in the screw head. the next size up is too big. can never seem to get one that fits hex heads just right. thanks for the answer.

Mine doesn't. It's a bit from an old Craftsman magnetic tip set, and it fits just as tightly as the Brownell's bit . . .

 

[Jimmyjones]

Should be 3/32nds.

Beat me to it, I need to hit refresh before I comment.

 

[edlloyd]

anyone know where i can get a slotted screw that would fit this grip? I hate hex/torx screws. thanks

 

[Muss Muggins]

anyone know where i can get a slotted screw that would fit this grip? I hate hex/torx screws. thanks

Well, it's definitely a hex and not a torx. As for a replacement, I got nuthin' . . .

 

[Tom S.]

I'm of the opposite opinion and love both hex and torq head screws. Far less likely to have a slip and mark something up. Case in point, I used a set on my 686 when working on the trigger, and despite having removed them multiple times to remove the side plate, they still look great. I wish S&W would use them on all their revolvers.

If your wrench fits loose, either someone has damaged the heads or the wrench end itself is damaged, which is fairly common. Just rounding off the sharp corners a little bit will result in the loose fit you are describing. The good news is you can either grind the end off or cut it off. Either way, make sure to keep it cool by dipping in water to avoid losing the temper in the steel or it will just round off again.

 

[edlloyd]

I did take the tip of the bit down a little and it is tighter in the head. i did bugger up the hex head though, do you know if smith sells replacements? as stated above, would love to have the same screw with a slotted head.

 

[mcopilot]

Its a star wrench T-10, they sell them at lowes it looks like a foldable allen wrench kit. but I have removed hundreds of them I sell grips at gun shows and this is the tool.

 

[oldrookey617]

I have been using a 3/32 bit on my 637 and 617 for a long time, It always fits a little lose. I have a set of allen wrenches, and the 5/64 fits great. I think the 5/64 may be a 2mm, going to take the allen screw with me to Low's and try a 2mm bit, they should work great in my magnetic bit driver. using the allen wrenches is a pain in the A...