The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I have just purchased a "Professional 31 Piece Gunsmith Screwdriver Set" from Hannans reloading for £19.95.

I have not used them as yet but I am sure they will be better than what i have, but "Professional" at that price..I am a bit sceptical.

Anyone had any experience with these?

I suspect that I need to pay more.

I have the same screwdriver set. Wouldn't really classify them as "master gunsmith" though, one of the flatheads has snapped but the other bits have survived. They kit contain different sized flatheads and has some of the Torx fittings for rings (e.g. T-15) so it's a good bit of kit to have.

There are some screws on firearms which require a long, narrow flat head to gain more torque. This is what caused one of my flathead bits to break, but to be honest, I'd rather one of the bits break than have a stripped screw.

I've got a very similar set, marked as Wheeler.

What's the difference between a "Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set" and a Normal Screwdriver set?

Colour me sceptical. I'll stick with my drapers....

TattooedGun wrote:What's the difference between a "Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set" and a Normal Screwdriver set?

Colour me sceptical. I'll stick with my drapers....

"Normal" screwdrivers are taper ground whereas Gunsmith screwdrivers or bits are hollow ground so as to have parallel faces. This prevents screws being mangled, as long as the correctly fitting size is used.

TomH wrote:

TattooedGun wrote:What's the difference between a "Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set" and a Normal Screwdriver set?

Colour me sceptical. I'll stick with my drapers....

"Normal" screwdrivers are taper ground whereas Gunsmith screwdrivers or bits are hollow ground so as to have parallel faces. This prevents screws being mangled, as long as the correctly fitting size is used.

Great answer! Thanks.

As it happens I have and use some of these bits, but didn't realise they were specifically "gunsmith" bits.

And I am hoping that that difference will stop me chewing up my new unblemished blued screws on my new Henry...

I haven't particularly bothered before because my ex-military rifle screws are already a bit chewed up..well some are

TattooedGun wrote:

TomH wrote:

TattooedGun wrote:What's the difference between a "Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set" and a Normal Screwdriver set?

Colour me sceptical. I'll stick with my drapers....

"Normal" screwdrivers are taper ground whereas Gunsmith screwdrivers or bits are hollow ground so as to have parallel faces. This prevents screws being mangled, as long as the correctly fitting size is used.

Great answer! Thanks.

As it happens I have and use some of these bits, but didn't realise they were specifically "gunsmith" bits.

They're not, they are just hollow ground bits. The problem of chewing up screw heads exists in many areas and these bits thankfully are becoming widespread. The Gunsmith Screwdrivers of old were parallel ground wooden handled jobs, before the advent of hex bits.

Anyone noticed how many YouTube "experts" on assembly/disassembly videos for a specific gun will use what appear to be tapered blade screwdrivers like Stanleys?

I use a Brownells Magna Tip Super set which I have had for over two decades and has to be the best shooting buy ever. They have never failed me and I still have al the original bits intact. The magnetic tips can be a blessing and a curse.

I also like the Chapman sets and have few of them in strategic places, they don't have the tip selection of Brownells but the the Chapman wrench is really good at torquing out those stubborn screws. Again the tips are hard and last.

The trick with screws is making sure that the tips are hollow ground so as not to be tapered as good slot fit is essential so a good selection of widths and thickness is necessary. Also they need to be hard to enable plenty of authority to be given but not brittle so as too shatter. If the set meets these requirements then the labels on the box are irrelevant.

I've had bits snap with a weaver torque wrench too.

The units are made in Taiwan I believe, but the quality is reasonable and I'm happy enough with it.

For £60 or so I would expect the quality of the bits to be slightly better.