[bpelison]

I recently bought a Lyman great plains rifle kit. I have never built a rifle before so I chose this particular kit since it looks fairly complete. Unfortunately, I ran into trouble almost immediately. While trying to install the escutcheons I noticed that the screws were very difficult to twist in. So, I decided (too late) to back them out and re-drill. On one of them I had gone too far and the screw heads sheared off as I tried to back them out. I plan on trying to drill out the headless screws and fill the holes with epoxy to I can start over. Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Also, the fore end cap and thimble appear to be pinned in place. Once I get the wood sanded and furniture polished how do I remove the fore end cap and thimble so I can brown them?

[Niner]

This happened to me on the Lyman Great Plains rifle as well. I drilled out the screw and glued in a section of wood dowel, then put in a replacement screw. If you look close in the picture, the replacement screw is actually brass instead of steel...but who's to notice?

One picture shows the back side of the repair job. Only the glue is evident.

I didn't remove the front end cap and thimble. I browned them before I othewise stained and finished the stock.

[mykeal]

I recently took delivery of my winter project: a .54 flint GPR kit. I posted that fact on another forum dedicated to builders and several people replied that the escutcheon screws were a real problem for everyone. Seems this is kind of a famous fault of that kit. The good news is that was the only fault reported, so it should go much easier now.

[RugerGuy]

If you people where to ever to this again would you predrill for those screws or what would you do to prevent this problem? Reason I ask is I want to buy one of these kits. Thanks

[mykeal]

The gurus on the other forum all said to drill small holes for the screws.

[RugerGuy]

Thanks, that's simple enough to do. Midsouth Shooters Supply had those kits for something like $280 recently. Good price and I hear a real nice rifle.

[fspitzdorf]

MidwayUSA offers the percussion kit for 299.99 and with a dealer account you get an extra 10 off for 289.99... Shipping to Michigan and rounding up for the NRA comes out to 304 even.

Figured this would be the way to go before I break into a much nicer flint kit... Next winter's project I'm thinking...

I have an issue with the tang being over bent so that the angle is too tight and I need to tweak it a bit to make it fit the mortise in the stock. Otherwise I've managed to get rid of the stupid dotted lettering off of the barrel... Little custom engraving on the mill next week should look nice though :)