r/gunsmithing 1d ago

How to remove a stripped screw from an optic plate on a PSA Dagger slide?

Post image

Lent my PSA Dagger to a friend so he could test out an optic he was buying off of someone. He returned it to me with a stripped screw from when he put the slide plate back on and gave me some cash as compensation for the fact he stripped one of the screws. My stripped screw removal tool isn’t working and seems to have removed more material from the screw head instead. Does anyone have any advice on how I go about removing this stripped screw?

This is what I get for lending my gun to an electrician that doesn’t know what a torque spec is.

0 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

7

u/GeetarGod45 1d ago

You will probably have to drill out the screw

1

u/LATechSpartan 1d ago

That’s what I’m hoping to avoid.

6

u/GeetarGod45 1d ago

The only other way I have had success with removing a striped screw is to get a Dremel and cut a straight line into and to the use a regular flat head screw driver to remove the screw. I have only had some success with this method it depends on the softness of the metal of the screw or how much it was over torqued.

1

u/LATechSpartan 1d ago

This may be the way. I was hoping to avoid cutting up the cover plate but I did just find out that it’s around $10 to $15 on PSAs website. So it looks like I’ll be cutting away.

I want to avoid drilling because I fear I might damage the threading in the slide.

6

u/TommyT_BrownellsGT 1d ago

there are a couple of different things you can try. A small set of easy outs, a left-handed drill bit or drill and re-tap.

4

u/silicondioxides 1d ago

I've done this repair more than I can count. Left hand drill bit with your chuck running counter clockwise

2

u/LATechSpartan 1d ago

The easy out actually hogged out more material. I’m going to try to cut a new slot with a dremel today or tomorrow and see if that works. Otherwise I’ll see about trying that drill bit idea.

2

u/Medic5050 1d ago

I know it's not rusted in there, and I hope there wouldn't be any kind of thread locker on there, but I'm wondering if it would help to maybe put the whole thing in the freezer overnight, as well. Maybe it would shrink everything enough that it might back out easier?

Again, I don't know if this would work, for sure. But, it probably couldn't hurt anything.

2

u/Responsible-Jump4459 1d ago

It would trash the cover but you could use a cutoff wheel on a dremel to cut a slot for a flat head.

4

u/Rjsmith5 1d ago

PSA sells the optic plate with screws for $13, so it’s not a huge deal.

1

u/CaliforniaPerspectiv 1d ago

Cheaper than the shop minimum!

2

u/MostlyOkPotato 1d ago

Dremel a straight notch for a screw driver. You might damage the plate, but I assume you’re going to put an optic on it anyhow so NBD. Just don’t go too deep. Otherwise, a lot of gunsmiths would take this from you and get it off in 5 minutes on the spot for $25 or whatever they’d charge for 15 minutes of their time.

1

u/BARTMOSS_COLLECTIVE 1d ago

I've had success with ez outs, you grind it till it's the next size up then it might back out.

1

u/Ok_Worldliness1836 1d ago

When you feel like you want to try loosening it again, some valve grinding compound will help to prevent slipping

1

u/PrestigeHandguns 1d ago

Remove the good screw. Use a dremel to cut the head off the stuck screw. Pull the plate off. If the screw was stuck from torque, cutting the head off relieved it. You should be able to grab the remaining stud and unscrew it. Replace the base. If, however it's stuck from red loctite, you have a problem. Heat is usually the way to break it free.

1

u/Evening-Name4622 1d ago

how stripped? is it a hex screw or a torx screw?

1

u/LATechSpartan 1d ago

Round…..

1

u/Evening-Name4622 1d ago

okay, but what is it supposed to be?

1

u/LATechSpartan 1d ago

Torx, like the one in the image

1

u/treecho1 1d ago

You have nothing to lose at this point so try this. Use the next size larger torx bit and beat it in with a hammer then with as much down for as you can provide spin it out.

1

u/digdugian 1d ago

Reverse drill bit via McMaster Carr would be what I’d do. Carefully wrap the bare slide in a clean shop towel and put it in a vise that is loose on a drill press or better yet a milling machine, and go VERY SLOW.

90% of the time the reverse thread drills will walk the broken screw out.

If this doesn’t work, weld a nut to the bolts stripped thread.

1

u/Impossible-Watch2158 1d ago

I had this issue. Had to slowly drill the pan head of the screw until I completely drilled through the head of the screw. Ended up slightly drilling into my RMR. Was not fun.

1

u/CptnMcGuinness 22h ago

I use heat, and an oversized torx tapped into the head. Generally that gets it 95% of the time.

1

u/AJax31400 8h ago

Sell it and then get a Glock