bead broken and stuck in Feckin

djflawless

Feckin broke the bead on the o/u yesterday and there's a bit still stuck in the bridge.not enough to grab with a pliers
Just wondering is there any way to get it out myself or is it a gunsmiths job?
Thought about drilling it but I'd be afraid of ruining the threads in the bridge
Suggestions welcome!

Cass

Is there enough material to cut a "slot" in any protruding bit, and then screw it out?

If not then it could be a drill then tap scenario. You can do this yourself if you have a drill press, but if not i'd get someone else to do it. You don't want to feck up your gun by not drilling it straight.

J.R.

This also happened me before on a Remington 870.

I used a 1mm HSS drill bit, in a cordless drill on low speed, to drill out the remaining bead.

I was lucky as the bead began to spin and unscrew when the bit was only a few mm in.

If you are nervous trying this method then a friend, who's a carpenter or similar tradesman, may attempt it for you as they would be confident, using this type of tool daily and wouldn't be nervous using it.

Double Barrel

If you feel comfortable with the above suggestions go for it, otherwise a pillar drill (press) with the barrel clamped to the table.

Cass

I don't say this to argue or from the "my way is better" point of view(so no offence intended) but i would strongly recommend a drill press (pillar drill) with the gun well and truly clamped.

No matter how careful you are no one can drill a perfectly straight hole. If the bit comes out as JR described then you are golden, but if not and you need to drill it out the pillar drill will do it more exact, and better. Also you want a good drill, and not some LIDL special. Any movement or "wobble" in the bit will result in an inexact hole. IOW it'll mess up the gun, the placement of the new bead, and as such have an effect on your ability to aim the gun.

J.R.

Another alternative, to get you out of a fix, is to attach a 'clip on', 'stick - on' or magnetic bead that covers the existing broken one

MAGNETIC

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BROWNING-HI-VIZ-BIRDBUSTER-SHOTGUN-SIGHT-EASY-FIT-CLAY-PIGEON-SHOOTING-NEW-/131047203128?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item1e8305a138

ADHESIVE

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/UNI-DOT-FIBRE-OPTIC-SHOTGUN-SIGHT-P200-RED-Pt-3203-2mm-Stick-on-NOT-EASYHIT-/350872519820?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item51b1a1c48c

djflawless

Wouldn't mind that magnet idea but I don't think I'd keep them on for rough stuff is go through
Will try the 1mm bit in the pillar drill and hope it unscrews
Think it'll be time then to put the luminous rod bead on!!
Cheers for input lads!

Invincible

djflawless wrote: »

Feckin broke the bead on the o/u yesterday and there's a bit still stuck in the bridge.not enough to grab with a pliers
Just wondering is there any way to get it out myself or is it a gunsmiths job?
Thought about drilling it but I'd be afraid of ruining the threads in the bridge
Suggestions welcome!

If you can drill a hole into the bead, which if brass should be soft. Get the loan of a set of easy-outs(screw extractors) which have a left hand thread and proceed to twist the bead out of it's thread using a suitable size extractor.

https://www.google.ie/search?q=screw+extractor&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=FffqUoHDJ86A7QbQ0YGQDQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=651

Grizzly 45

djflawless wrote: »

Wouldn't mind that magnet idea but I don't think I'd keep them on for rough stuff is go through
Will try the 1mm bit in the pillar drill and hope it unscrews
Think it'll be time then to put the luminous rod bead on!!
Cheers for input lads!

We have been trying to get a TRU GLO sight off one of our guns in Germany for the last decade without damaging the gun and doing an expensive re bluing job.:P Once they are on,they stay on.

Cass

Is the bead screwed in, in the first place?

I believe some manufacturers press in the beads. If so then it'll definitely be a drill and tap job.

One shot on kill

Is heat any good.

Cass

It would be if you could use it without any damage to the finish/bluing of the barrels.

Nothing provides enough heat without a flame of some sort. If you did not care about the finish then have at it.

One shot on kill

Ah ye the blueing. I forgot about that.

Out withe the drill so.

djflawless

As far as I know its screwed in.where it snapped its flush with the bridge

Didn't think easy outs could be got that size tbh,!

Double Barrel

djflawless
On second thought, ....... take the barrels to a competent gunsmith and be done with it, no scratches or ruined barrels. Inexpensive fix by a smith.
The bead is either crimped or held with loctite or some other adhesive, a little heat would help here (soldering iron) directly on the bead.
Good luck

223vmax

If you attempt this yourself you could end up in big trouble. Find a gunsmith as its probably only a 10 minute job for him as he already has the tools/setup.

J.R.

djflawless wrote: »

Feckin broke the bead on the o/u yesterday and there's a bit still stuck in the bridge.not enough to grab with a pliers
Just wondering is there any way to get it out myself or is it a gunsmiths job?
Thought about drilling it but I'd be afraid of ruining the threads in the bridge
Suggestions welcome!

Any luck resolving your problem????.........what steps did you take??

djflawless

Tbh, I haven't done anything yet.although I was talking to a fitter/fabricator friend with a work shop said he'd do it for me.assures me the worst case scenario is a slight scratch on the bridge.he'd be tasty enough at his work so I might chance him

skipking

same thing happened to me' i bought a trueglow off ebay for around 25 euro. simply peel off back and stick
on to your gun

djflawless

Have it left with the gunsmith. collecting Tuesday so should be perfect!