Why don't you hardly ever see......

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R.W.Dale

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Phillips headed screws on guns?


Wasn't the Phillips head invented because it's harder to booger up and strip? Is this simply another case of the firearms industry being stuck in the 19th century.
 
all i know is i hate torx heads and love flat heads, it seems like to me flat heads strip less than phillips heads, maybe its just me
 
i'm with eitrheim, i own a 1984 vw rabbit and the only bolts i ever have to replace are the torx headed bolts. the simple six sided bolts though will be used forever.
to make an argument for torx though: in cases where you want to have a countersunk bolt it is an acceptable option where a regular bolt isn't.

-kirk
 
its easier to use a pocket knife or some other improvised tool on slotted heads when you have a problem in the field is one good reason.
 
When I worked construction I rarely ever found flat head screws stripped, but I always found phillips head screws stripped.

I only have flatheads on my guns and I am happy about that.

its easier to use a pocket knife or some other improvised tool on slotted heads when you have a problem in the field is one good reason.
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+1 to that!
 
I believe that Phillips heads were invented for screws that are installed by machine. They "torque out" to prevent over-tightening. Guns are mostly hand-assembled.
 
You can apply more torque to a phillips due to the resistance of the bit from deforming. However, comma, that kind of torque is rarely needed in a firearms screw application. Phillips screws are faster and easier to use, and act like a U joint so you can screw them in at odd angles. Try to do this with straight slot screws, and you fail. Phillips head screws aren't designed to "torque out" unless you are using the wrong size bit or not applying enough force.

That said, straight slot screws are more easily removable even without the proper tool. This field access ability is sought after in the firearms world, one would think.
 
phillips head screws and other phillips head screwey things are great for woodwork, and housework.... but they do strip more easily IMO than flat head screws.

additionally, if on an emergency basis you needed to unscrew a phillips head, it's more difficult to find something that works than a flat head. a dime will unscrew some flat-head screws (not the teeny ones though).
 
but they do strip more easily IMO than flat head screws.
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Yep. Take a look at a nice set of gunsmith screwdrivers. Very sharp corners, all 90 degrees. Very pretty.

Not your average wal mart chinese made chrome plated screwdriver but a machined tool, precision ground to the proper size and angles.

They are beautiful. With a matching screw they can take incredible torque, rarely strip, and look much better.

Problem is when you use screwdrivers like the one on the left here:

bit-in-screw-closeup.jpg
 
Stick a hex wheel nut over there bolt and start twisting. None of this silly screw driver stuff.

Ive got a set of allen screws that completely cover the internal part of the screw Im trying to get into the gun and it works every time.
 
I've use all kinds of heads everyday for work. If you have the proper phillips bit (no they're not created equal) you won't have stripping issues.

For example, I use #2 phillips everyday and I've tried bits from DeWalt, Makita, Craftsman, MAC, SnapOn, and Bosch. They may all look the same but fit very differently. And by far, the small titanium Bosch #2 bits are the best.
 
no offense, but I hate seeing threads such as, "Why don't they..." or "How come its always..." etc. etc.

Jeesh, state your topic and be done with it already so folks know whether they want to participate in the thread (or not).
 
I don't get this, I can completely understand krochus' question, and left input. What are you confused about in the OP?
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he is referring to the thread title... it just says "why dont you harldy ever see" nothing to do with the topic... SOME find it to be a waste of time to actually click to investigate and just hit new posts if they arent intersted in the thread... would rather know what they are clicking to begin with... I find it usually works nicely to just put the cursor over the thread title and see what the first few lines are... usually gives a good indication...


on another note... I have stripped FAR more phillips heads than flat heads... Phillips just have too much variance... thickness, depth, sharpness... etc...
 
HammerheadSSN663 said:
no offense, but I hate seeing threads such as, "Why don't they..." or "How come its always..." etc. etc.

Jeesh, state your topic and be done with it already so folks know whether they want to participate in the thread (or not).
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Are you serious?

You do realize that if you hover your cursor over the topic for a couple seconds title a box will AUTOMATICALLY open and show you the first few lines of the OP:rolleyes:

My god is there anything you newbies won't whine about:scrutiny:
 
Nothing that a little gun oil wont solve those squeaks and whines. Quiets em down a little when learn new tricks like hovering a mouse over title.

I did a bit of wood working the other day with number 8 wood screws with phillips and they did ok, but at a certian point the female side will strip out. Ive learned to pre-drill holes prior to actually putting the screw on.
 
SOME find it to be a waste of time to actually click to investigate and just hit new posts if they arent intersted in the thread
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I am one of those who prefer a clear title of threads as well as a clear description of videos.

Here is why.

My computer, when I mouse over a threat, will show a summary but it will also hide the summary after a few seconds. That is a mild annoyance.

However, the biggest reason is that thread titles that actually reflect what is in the thread as well as videos that are actually properly titled makes finding the information a year from now or longer a LOT easier.

THR at it's best is a great repository of gun information. Posters and threat starters can either add to the information (good advice, ask questions others are thinking), detract from the information (bad advice) or simply drown out the good information (clutter making it hard to get to the good info)

THR has always taken steps to attempt to reduce the clutter. For instance, THR has purposely made it hard for you to include entire text of the post you are responding to. I would love a 'respond with quote' option rather than manually cutting and pasting and using the quote button, but I have been on enough forums where I have seen people ignorantly click it every time that I understand their logic and agree.

I hope in the future the Original Poster does think a bit more about how to clearly state his title
 
bcaill4 said:
...its easier to use a pocket knife or some other improvised tool on slotted heads when you have a problem in the field is one good reason.
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Gun shows are full of rifles with dorked up the screw heads.....now I know who did it. (heehee)
 
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