Colt Defender Grip screw bushings

[blaisenguns]

Hey folks, I just bought a Colt Defender and the previous owner put slim wood grips on it, but they didn’t do it correctly. Instead of installing slim bushings, they just ground down the stock bushings, and they also over tightened the screws. I noticed the grips were slightly lose, so I unscrewed them, and both the heads broke off (with very little effort) on the left side. So I bought new bushings, and I first tried cutting slots into the bushings, and using a screw driver, that didn’t work, so I tried drilling them out, and using a striped screw remover, that didn’t work, and I tried vice grips. Now I have two completely FUBAR'ed bushings. I would greatly appreciate any advise that some more experienced smiths could afford me in respect to removing these bushings.

 

[Steve H]

Drill bit and an easy out?

 

[blaisenguns]

What do you mean easy out?

 

[Steve H]

It's a "tool" used to remove stuck screws and stuff like you are having a problem with. Here is a picture from Google. Drill a hole through the problem screw/bushing, insert the easy out and "unscrew it".

 

[MattTheHat]

Perhaps more commonly known as a broken screw extractor. They're made in a variety of sizes. Since they're tapered, each one will work with a range of several similar screw sizes.


-Matt

 

[blaisenguns]

Thanks! I got something similar from the local hardware store. After wresteling with em for a little while I finally got em, and put the new ones in.