How to remove stripped scope ring screw?

Hi team,

I bought a VX3i off Trademe a while ago, it came with a set of rings attached. I managed to remove 7 out of the 8 screws, but the last one has been impossible to remove.

It's a usual hex screw. It is extremely tight, and to make things worse, the screw head was already stripped.

I have tried the following without success:
1. Turn with hex key + fabric/rubber band inside the head slot
2. Turn screw from either ends (head and open thread) with a set of pliers
3. Hammer the screw from either ends with a nail punch in attempt to loosen it
4. Soak the connection in CRC in attempt to loosen it
5. Hammer in a torx screw driver inside the head in attempt to turn it

I can now only just rotate the scope within the rings. Not sure if that's going to help though.

Anyone got any ideas?
Would be much appreciated!

Bloody good scope but just can't use it yet.

Attachment 188513

Attachment 188514

Cut the screw with a 1mm cut off. Have done it more than once.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drill the head of the screw out to get the scope out the ring, then tackle the threaded part in the base after.

Drexel with a small cutting disc.

Try using a screw extractor if you've got access to one. Otherwise either drill the head off or cut through it with a dremel through the gap between the two halves of the scope ring. Depending on how careful you are depends if you scrap the rings or not. If you're not worried about the rings just cut through he screw.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MSL

Cut the screw with a 1mm cut off. Have done it more than once.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Thanks mate, don't quite understand what you meant. Do you mean cutting just under the screw head with one of these?
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/sia-125-x...wheel_p0200367

Silly me, should be cutting between the ring pieces.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Thanks mate, don't quite understand what you meant. Do you mean cutting just under the screw head with one of these?
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/sia-125-x...wheel_p0200367

---

Yes, though it’s only really a solution if you’re not wanting to save the ring. Run the disc in the gap between the two halves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those rings look like Chinese ones which come with cheese for screws. I found success in the past on several occasions, with the same type of scope rings tightened up to the point of no return by the same MR Ham Hand. First get a new drill (not Chinese)which will just fit inside the hole in the head of the screw and create a shallow starter hole with your trusty Makita. Then drill the head off the screw with a new drill (not Chinese) that is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the screw, driven slowly with several pauses to check progress. It does not take very much work to drill into the head to the point that the head will fall off (because the screws are made from cheese). Total time, about 15 minutes.

If you want to save your rings take sika stags advice. Drill the head of like removing a rivet. Leaves plenty of shank to play with in the bottom half.

You could cut a slot in the head of the screw and then try again with a flat blade screwdriver.
Otherwise the above is good.

I wouldn't bother trying to save those rings. They look like junk.

lol Ive got it if you cut the scope in half it should just slide out:thumbsup: you can save the screws then phew;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Thanks mate, don't quite understand what you meant. Do you mean cutting just under the screw head with one of these?
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/sia-125-x...wheel_p0200367

Silly me, should be cutting between the ring pieces.

---

I think something less aggressive...

Like this
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-rot...ories_p0313708

With one of these
Attachment 188516

Using a drill bit with a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the screw head, drill very slowly to chip away at the screw head, so you can open the ring.
Then with a pair of pliers try to unscrew the part of the screw that was screwed in, to loosen pour a little water on it.
Execution to the one who invented the torx head screws

For an eazy option... Your in Hamilton, take it DPT machinists an they will sort you out if your a muppet with this stuff like myself

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Silly me, should be cutting between the ring pieces.

---

That sounds painful!

What area of Hamilton are you in? I have a screw extractor set but don’t know if it will do that small, it says quarter inch/M3 for the smallest one. I also have a dremel and cutting discs.

Drill the head off the screw, then lift the top half of the ring off. This will leave more exposed screw material to work with.

You should be able to get vice grips clamped tight on what's left and turn out.

Those look like trademe aluminium rings on your VX3. Ok on rimfires - not sure I'd use them for anything else. From my experience some are made from soft ali and its easy to strip threads etc. Cheapies - about $7 for a new set on trademe:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...9?bof=KNF3IRp5

If screw doesn't come out easy, I'd drill straight thru the ring hole and toss them away. Then grab some new ones, or better still buy some steels for that VX3.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cigar

That sounds painful!

What area of Hamilton are you in? I have a screw extractor set but don’t know if it will do that small, it says quarter inch/M3 for the smallest one. I also have a dremel and cutting discs.

---

Oops, eighth of an inch/M3, not quarter inch.

pry the ring open from the other side...and keep prying untill either something gives/breaks or you can open far enough to get scope out.drilling head of screw out makes perfect sence to me...I gave in and gave mine to someone else before I took to it with angle grinder,the frustration level was that high.

Oxy torch? heat the rings up until they expand enough to slip the scope out.

Nooooo

Learnt from engineers working out bush to make a paste out of grease and either fine sand or fine metal fillings and then dob the mixture into the fastener head.
I guess the mixture fills in the voids between the tool and damaged fastener and doesn’t easily compress, giving the tool more bight and purchase on the fastener your trying to turn.
Wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Used it on phillips, hex, torx fasteners and such like.
Certainly not fool proof but works surprisingly often.

one of these days someone will make Stainless steel screws with square head hole.....and this will overnight become a NON issue forever more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

one of these days someone will make Stainless steel screws with square head hole.....and this will overnight become a NON issue forever more.

---

Like everything, they money selling you the parts, not the original item.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moutere

Learnt from engineers working out bush to make a paste out of grease and either fine sand or fine metal fillings and then dob the mixture into the fastener head.
I guess the mixture fills in the voids between the tool and damaged fastener and doesn’t easily compress, giving the tool more bight and purchase on the fastener your trying to turn.
Wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Used it on phillips, hex, torx fasteners and such like.
Certainly not fool proof but works surprisingly often.

---

Ill have to give this a try @Moutere

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

one of these days someone will make Stainless steel screws with square head hole.....and this will overnight become a NON issue forever more.

---

That won't work - every time someone makes something idiot-proof, someone else invents a better idiot!

yes in the case if those rings i would cut between the rings with the Dremel very carefully as you dont want to cut the scope
the other option is to drill the head off the screw
this will fuck the rings but they look like a cheaper set anyway so probaly no issues to sacrifice them to save the scope potentially getting damaged the other way

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rupert

Those rings look like Chinese ones which come with cheese for screws. I found success in the past on several occasions, with the same type of scope rings tightened up to the point of no return by the same MR Ham Hand. First get a new drill (not Chinese)which will just fit inside the hole in the head of the screw and create a shallow starter hole with your trusty Makita. Then drill the head off the screw with a new drill (not Chinese) that is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the screw, driven slowly with several pauses to check progress. It does not take very much work to drill into the head to the point that the head will fall off (because the screws are made from cheese). Total time, about 15 minutes.

---

Sounds like those rings were made on the same studio that makes Wallace and Grommet:pacman:

Screw extractor will work for that. Done it a couple of times before - almost always with Chinese made rings.
Otherwise, drilling the head off the screw will allow you to release the scope.... Refer to Ruperts instructions regarding Chinese cheese screws

With a dremel cutting disc, cut a notch across the screwhead for a broad flathead screwdriver and you should be able to get it out.

Alternatively, looks like you can access the bottom end of the screw and add a notch at that end for a smaller screwdriver.

BUT first I'd try and get a broken screw extractor. Won't be the only time you need one. Get at M10, bunnings, Hammers, Tool shed etc.

Attachment 188550

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

one of these days someone will make Stainless steel screws with square head hole.....and this will overnight become a NON issue forever more.

---

You actually want the screws to be of softer metal than the rings, otherwise when things go wrong (and they will!) you will strip the thread out of the rings, wrecking the rings instead of wrecking a cheap easily replaceable screw.

nope I actually want something that doesnt strip and will last forever..WHY I use weaver clip over rings,which have simple slotted head,the only issue I have had in 30 years of usage was during period when scopes got swapped so often they got dizzy,I owned a redfield bearcub 2 3/4x that had been painted matt black so was couple of layers of paint fatter than normal,it stretched rings,so simply squished them back in a bit and she good as gold again...then bought 2nd set and used one new and one old on each rifle....tip for folks using these rings,put one on each way so final tighten doesnt twist scope.

I would suggest you get a little more aggressive with the torx bit. Grab the next size up - that will not fit into the hole - then hammer it in.

You'll know you've picked the right size when either the bolt comes out or it snaps.

Next option is to just use a 5mm drill and drill the head away leaving the threaded stub in the bottom part of the ring.