Ruger No. 1 - I broke the broken screw extractor

[Rio Laxas]

So I was trying to remove one of the screws from the quarter rib on my Ruger #1S in .45-70 the other day in order to install some sights on it, and I stripped the screw. I was working on a couple of my other #1 rifles and managed to strip a few more of the same type of screw on my #1A and my #1H. I used several different allen wrenches of the correct size, but there is just something wrong with those screws.

Well, not to be outdone, I ordered a set of screw extractors from Midway USA. They arrived today and I was having no problems getting these stripped screws out of the quarter ribs, when the screw extractor snapped off in one of the screws on the #1S.

So now I have a piece of hardened steel stuck in the center of a screw that I cannot get out. Being angry and not thinking straight, I kept trying to drill the hole just a little bigger and use a bigger extractor hoping it would catch. No luck.

Some of the screw head is still there and up to this point no damage has been done to the threads or quarter rib. Any suggestions? I'm about out of ideas, and yes I feel very stupid.

The big problem here is that if I damage the threads holding the quarter rib on then I am damaging a part of the barrel.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Find an EDM shop. This is the same process that Magna-Port uses.

 

[Zedo]

Ruger probably installs the rib with permanent loc-tite. Send the gun to Ruger and they'll fix your screw up (pun intended) without charge. You pay the shipping / insurance to them. They pay the return shipping. It runs about $15 and takes thee weeks all told.

Then you get your gun back and it's "factory spec."

I sent my No. 1 in with a broken extactor, action stuck open. I removed the scope and so the rear sight was missing. Ruger sent me a new rear sight -- not installed, but there if I needed it.

Ruger factory warranty service is excellent.

 

[machinisttx]

Sometimes screws can be VERY stubborn, which is why I always try removal methods in this order--

Through hole?
No.
File/mill flat spot on top and center punch as close to center as possible. Using low speed, feed left hand twist drill into screw.

Did the drill catch and back the screw out?
No.
Try screw extractor.

Did the screw extractor work?
No.
Move up a few drill sizes and try drilling again using a left hand twist drill.

Screw still stuck?
Yes.
Continue stepping up drill sizes until a paper thin wall of the screw remains. Pick remains of screw out of threads with a scribe.


Of course, I've always had access to mills. It would not be as simple using a drill press or a hand drill. I suggest taking it to a machine shop or a gunsmith.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I will look around and see who I can come up with in the area. I'm going to leave it alone for now as I don't want to mess it up any worse.

I was thinking last night though that if I used red loctite to cement a slightly bigger screw extractor into the top of the screw that might help. Is this a bad idea? I don't mind ruining the extractor if need be.

 

[gb6491]

I think the edm suggestion a good one to remove a broken extractor.

A thread locking compound might have been the cause of the stubborn screws.
I've found when removing front sights from Ruger MKII's that hitting them with some heat first makes them fairly easy to take off . The threads of the removed screws look as if they had some type of compound on them. Generally, heat is helpful with stubborn screw/bolts/dovetails/pins.

Regards,
Greg