Broken screw removal advice, please?

[lrrifleman]

I use a Remington 700 Long Range as my thousand yard rifle. Several years ago, an acquaintance that left shooting gave me a stock adapter that screwed into a swivel stud in order to replicate the stock of a benchrest rifle for an easier fit in the yoke of a rifle rest. (Dang, that was a mouth full!)

The point of this post, is that the aluminum screw that held the adapter on the stock broke yesterday during a match. Part of the screw is still in the retaining nut, embedded in the Bell & Carlson stock. I really don't want to sent the stock back to Bell & Carlson for repair, I don't know of a 'smith near me that I would trust to do the job, nor do I know a machinist in the area that could address this problem.

Is there a way anyone could recommend how I could easily remove the broken screw without butchering the stock? I do have a drill press. I was thinking that I could use a smaller bit to remove a portion of the screw, but how would I remove the portion that is still threaded in the retaining nut?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[schutzen-jager]

drill it on your drill press + then use an ez out to remove it -

 

[Bob L]

There are a couple of methods that I have used in the past to remove a broken screw or bolt. If it is a larger screw, you can take a punch, sharpen the point and try to turn the screw by placing the point towards the outer edge and tap it around. An easier method would be to get a broken screw remover. With these you drill a small hole in the center of the broken screw and insert the remover, which is like a left hand tap. As it digs in, it will grab hold of the broken shaft and turn it out. Here is a link to an extractor on Amazon. Good Luck!
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Stripped-HassleFree-Hardness-63-65hrc/dp/B07GZ17QD9[/ame]

 

[s&wchad]

I've had good luck using a file or Dremel tool with a small ball cutter to create a slot in the screw stub. I then chuck up an appropriately sized screwdriver tip in the drill press and turn it by hand to back the stub out. The press lever allow good downward pressure to keep the bit engaged in the slot.

You mentioned it's an aluminum screw. You might be able to drill a small, shallow hole in the end of the broken stub, gently drive a slightly larger screwdriver into the hole and back it out.

 

[ameridaddy]

Methods above will work. I'd recommend the drill press to avoid a bit slipping and marring your stock. If you can without hurting the bedding if it's a bedded stock, remove the stock from the receiver, put a heavy layer of tape around the screw to protect against marring the stock, try to clamp the stock under the drill press bit so the screw is perpendicular to the bit. Rock solid steady and perpendicular are important to get it on the first try.

Aluminum tends to gall, so I'd recommend a drop of penetrating oil on the screw, let it soak for ~15 minutes, longer is better, before you try to do anything.

I've both cut a slot for a screwdriver and center-drilled screws for an EZ-Out to remove a broken screw.

If you drill, it helps to present a flat surface to the bit. If screw size is big enough to permit it, use a Dremel to make a flat in the center of the screw, then carefully center punch that.

An EZ-out will specify what size drill to use on the side of the it.

Good luck, go slowly, take your time, try to get it right the first time.

 

[Drm50]

That screw is at least a #10. The best way is the long way around. Use short cuts and just mess up worse. Best to center punch and drill clear through if possible. Use about #31 bit. Then use eze out. I like the square type in aluminum and brass.

 

[4barrel]

You can also get a reverse drill bit that works like an ease out. Go slow. The screw needs to be flat-then center punch.

 

[mikerjf]

Can you start another screw into the hole?

If so, get a screw that fits and have a lathe guy drill a hole down the center of it. Thread it in, and use it as a guide to drill the broken screw. Then remove the guide, and use successively bigger drills to remove the broken one - it will eventually collapse.

Once you have a guide screw, better done with a hand drill IMO.

 

[2152hq]

If it's a #10 machine screw size, I'd simply line it up on my drill press and drill it right out with a drill size appropriately designated as a 'Tap Drill' for a #12-24 or 12-32 machine screw.
(If it's a #12,,go up to a 1/4-20 or 1/4-28 screw,,ect)

That will clear out the broken off aluminum #10 screw and make a clean hole for you to tap it with a new #12 machine screw thread of your choice.
Either #12-24 or #12-32 are common sizes and you can get a tap at any Home Depot for a couple $$.
Use a large drill chuck for a tap 'Handle' if you don't have one and don't want to buy one just for this. Or splurge and buy a Hecho en China tap handle.

Tap the hole with new threads. Buy a good stainless steel machine screw #12 to fit from the Home Depot selection of fine products and never have a problem again.