Dorked up my Springer GI - now what?

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Pebcac

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For Christmas, my wonderful wife bought me a nice set of Springfield-logo cocobolo grips for my GI Mil-Spec. The grip swap went well enough, except that I noticed during the first range trip with the new grips that they had come loose after a while. Evidently, I didn't tighten the grip screws enough. So, upon returning home, I broke out the screwdriver, and that's where it all went wrong.

I stripped out the top left-hand grip screw bushing. It spins with almost no bind in the frame, and won't back out, either. So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided I'd take out the bushing on the other side so that I could get something of substance in to push out the stripped bushing, and this is where the plot doth thicken. It would appear that the bushings are fairly soft MIM, because the screwdriver slot sheared nearly off and is now smooth after only maybe a full turn. The screwdriver I was using fit well, and I tried to be very careful to keep both sides in full contact to prevent just this thing from happening. Those buggers are tight coming out, too, and it looks like the backside is feathered or some such to keep them tight.

So, now what do I do? I'm afraid to get a set of locking pliers after that wrecked bushing because I don't want to do any further damage. Should I call Springfield in the hope that they will help me? Is it gunsmith time? If I'm going to send it to a smith, I'm thinking I'll make all the MIM parts go bye-bye and maybe upgrade the sights. If I get the pliers after the torn-up bushing and manage to get it out, am I right in thinking I can push the stripped one out? And finally, what color loctite should I use when putting it all back together again?

Someone really should take all my tools away from me. :rolleyes:
 
I'd let a smith do the job. The grip bushings should be staked and loctited into place. The trouble or as you put it...the plot...thickens even more when you go to install the new bushings or bushing. Decide what sights you want and have the smith install them too. I think we are beyond asking Springfield to fix it...:D
 
If you have munged up the frame threads, too, Brownells sells oversize rescue bushings and the correct tap. It would be a gunsmith job for me.
 
I would have a gunsmith install oversize bushings if the threads of the frame are stripped.
 
Probably smith time.

But (oh, that word ... :D )

I can't guarantee this (or much of anything, at times), but this method has worked for me on similar "projects." In the absence of screw extractors, I've taken an old screwdriver and ground the edges to a sharp taper fit into a bushing. It shouldn't matter much if the blade gets a little soft. Brace the frame on a tabletop with a nice, soft backing underneath. With a small hammer, tap the driver blade gently into the bushing. Once snug, press down and turn in a fairly sudden "snap."

Like I said, no promises, and there may be some flame-y reaction to this. I tend to wander into things, usually they work out. Just, if you're going nuts looking at it, you know ...

The fact that this has worked for me a couple of times might be dumb luck.

You're still going to need new bushings. Just make sure you don't wind up needing frame work, too.

Luck!

PS
Most things work gently if they're going to work.
 
A screw extractor of the proper size should work fine. On the GI and Colt guns those bushings are staked and should never be removed, as removal without removing the staking can strip the frame threads.

On some clones, the bushings are only glued in and can come out pretty easily, usually leaving the bushing hanging on the inside of the grip. If that is the case, grip the bushing with vise grip pliers and turn the screw with a very tight fitting screwdriver. If the bushing threads are messed up, you can always replace the bushing and stake it.

If the frame threads are messed up, the only thing to do is to take the advice of Jim Watson and go to an oversize bushing.

Jim
 
Well, nuts. I didn't know the bushings were staked, or I wouldn't have tried to get the non-stripped one out. Now I fear it might be starting to strip, too, although I only backed it out maybe a full turn at most. I suppose I can say that at least I learned something. :rolleyes:

Looks like it's off to a competent set of hands--meaning not mine!
 
It's bumbling around and then learning from it that makes you smarter about anything you touch. If you need new/oversized bushings, usually you can get a kind and knowlegeable person at your local shop, walk you through things. Of course, if door hinges make you nervous, this might not be the at-home semester you've always dreamed of! :D
 
What you need to do is get out your Dremel and...


Just kidding. :p Take it to a gunsmith before it gets worse.
 
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