Does anyone know what size screw driver I should use to remove the grip screws on a S&W J-frame revolver model 640? I am replacing them with Crimson Trace grips. Any recommendation on the brand of screwdriver and supplier? I'd like to buy only a screw driver for the grips - I don't plan to do any other repairs or modifications on my own.
what size screw driver
- Thread starter Daniel71
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
usnrigger
Member
sizes are kinda hard, i think i took a grace screwdriver and re-ground it to size(hollow grind) and re-heat treated. I take more screwdrivers and re-grind them to my needs then anything. A good gunsmith minded driver kit should have something in it.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,299
- Reaction score
- 30,216
Any hollow ground bit that fills the screw slot is fine. Grip screws are not that tight and excess force is certainly not required.
Big Cholla
Member
When I first read the OP I thought, "What an odd question." In all my years of working on guns I have never thought 'what size screw driver?'. The answer was always clear to me; The one that fits properly width and thickness wise and is hollow ground. To this day when faced with a firearm that I am not very well acquainted, I lay out three choices from my Wheeler's Engineering Set and try each one. If none fit as I feel it should, I regrind a screwdriver bit to fit exactly. For the most nowadays I only work on very familiar firearms like the S&W revolvers and I can reach to the Wheeler Set and pull the exact bit out for any given screw the first try. Please don't get me wrong. My comment here is not to belittle the OP in the slightest. All of us think in different terms and relevance. That way of solving the screwdriver fit problem just never occurred to me. ............ Big Cholla
Walter Rego
Member
I checked the screw on my Model 640 which came equipped with the Uncle Mikes Santoprene "boot grips". The bit size in my Brownells MagnaTip set that fits the closest is a 240-6. That means the blade width is .240" and the blade thickness is .045". Brownells sells manufacturer-specific sets of hollow ground screwdrivers that are moderately priced. The Smith & Wesson set # 080-087-004WB is said to contain four bits to fit side plate, grip, thumb latch, and rear sight elevation and tang screws. Price is $17.95. However, it does not contain the #240-6 blade so the blade included is probably for the narrower slot screws used on the wooden stocks and I have found that you should have a an assortment of their so called "thin bits" to best fit the sideplate screw slots of older models. Bits are about $3 each, so for $35-$40 you should have a handle and a good general assortment.
Thanks. I'll go to Brownell's site and buy something - and be sure it includes the 240-6.
Depending on the year of mfg. and frame size you would need several different size screwdriver bits.
The reason I was asking is that I am very unmechanical and never do any work on my handguns except clean them. Recently I put a Crimson Trace grip on my ex-wife's revolver and used a junky handy man screw driver. Next time I want to have a proper screw driver. (I didn't even know what a hollow ground screw driver was till yesterday.) Anyway, I was hoping to be able to buy just one screw driver for this task, but I now realize I need at least a few. Can you give me any recommendation on the type screw driver set to buy - for someone who will primarily be just changing grips from the factory supplied to Crimson Trace grips? Any special brand, source and required bits? I'd like one with a fairly large grip because I have suffered a neck injury in the past and have some loss of grip strength. I think a think grip would be easiest for me to use. What do you think about buying from Brownells or Midway? Preference?
gwpercle
Member
You may not plan on it , but believe me, if you own a gun you need a proper set of screwdrivers. My favorite are the Pachmayr Professional Gunsmith set, 31 pcs., $20.00 from Midway....it will be the best money you ever spent...Trust Me.
Gary
Gary
Thanks, I'll get that one.
Big Cholla
Member
Choices
I agree that at your level of handgun maintenance the Pachmayr 31 pc. set of bits and grip will work just fine. For about $25 more you could buy the Wheeler big set and have two grips (screwdriver handle) and more bits for special purposes, but you probably won't need the bigger set. I do like the Wheeler screwdriver handle's shape and size better.
I deal with both Midway and Brownell's and they are about the same customer service wise. Midway is more apt to come up with some really good deals on their 'markdown' sales. ........ Big Cholla
I agree that at your level of handgun maintenance the Pachmayr 31 pc. set of bits and grip will work just fine. For about $25 more you could buy the Wheeler big set and have two grips (screwdriver handle) and more bits for special purposes, but you probably won't need the bigger set. I do like the Wheeler screwdriver handle's shape and size better.
I deal with both Midway and Brownell's and they are about the same customer service wise. Midway is more apt to come up with some really good deals on their 'markdown' sales. ........ Big Cholla
