Need a set screw

southjk · April 18, 2013, 01:28 PM

I recently emailed S&W about the rear sight on my M&P .22 pistol. I had asked them if they had a two dot sight to replace the factory one and they replied that they would send me a new one no charge. Sweet. When it came in I removed the old one and slid the new one in but the original set screw would not work. It was like it was different threads. It would go in about a half turn or so then stop. I went to two different gun stores, one being the biggest in town with a decent gunsmith and no luck with either. I then went to Lowes and a locally owned hardware store and no luck with them either. So I emailed S&W back that the sight they sent didn't come with any set screw. In the mean time I found what I thought was the corresponding set screw (108010000) at Brownellss to go with the rear sight S&W sent me (390800000 was handwritten on the baggie).

S&W finally responded that they would send me a screw but I'd already ordered one from Brownells. Oh well, I'll have a spare. When the Brownells screw arrived I started threading it in and it went much further then the original one but about half way in it got tougher to turn. As I kept turning it to try to get it to poke through the other side, my hex wrench slipped. And then slipped again. I'd stripped it out. I had to get some needle nose pliers to back it out.

The fedex tracking for the S&W screw says the postal service delivered it yesterday. They didn't.

Question one - I thought I was using the right size hex wrench but apparently not. Is it a hex or maybe a star? Anyone know what size?

Question two - Where can I find a set screw that won't cost me $8 from Brownells. Kind of expensive for a 0.25 cent screw. I hate to keep bugging S&W for free stuff.

cecILL · April 19, 2013, 07:35 AM

Make sure you dress your wrench!

jag2 · April 19, 2013, 09:16 AM

Hopefully the screw from S&W will show up in a day or so.
My other thought, did you check out the metric screw section at the hardware store and Lowes. I wouldn't think it would be but you never know. Your description of how the screw started sounds like the screw has a different pitch thread which is common with metric screws. Can't swear that is your problem but should be checked out.

southjk · April 19, 2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Hopefully the screw from S&W will show up in a day or so.

Actually, it did show up the next day. Yesterday. I guess I don't have a full set of wrenches because the one I thought fit has a little play in it.

Quote:

Make sure you dress your wrench!

Not familiar with that ... hmmm.

cecILL · April 21, 2013, 09:44 AM

Grind or file the end of the hex wrench to eliminate the "rounding" that will occur with use.

April 18, 2013, 01:28 PM	#1
southjk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 468	Need a set screw I recently emailed S&W about the rear sight on my M&P .22 pistol. I had asked them if they had a two dot sight to replace the factory one and they replied that they would send me a new one no charge. Sweet. When it came in I removed the old one and slid the new one in but the original set screw would not work. It was like it was different threads. It would go in about a half turn or so then stop. I went to two different gun stores, one being the biggest in town with a decent gunsmith and no luck with either. I then went to Lowes and a locally owned hardware store and no luck with them either. So I emailed S&W back that the sight they sent didn't come with any set screw. In the mean time I found what I thought was the corresponding set screw (108010000) at Brownellss to go with the rear sight S&W sent me (390800000 was handwritten on the baggie). S&W finally responded that they would send me a screw but I'd already ordered one from Brownells. Oh well, I'll have a spare. When the Brownells screw arrived I started threading it in and it went much further then the original one but about half way in it got tougher to turn. As I kept turning it to try to get it to poke through the other side, my hex wrench slipped. And then slipped again. I'd stripped it out. I had to get some needle nose pliers to back it out. The fedex tracking for the S&W screw says the postal service delivered it yesterday. They didn't. Question one - I thought I was using the right size hex wrench but apparently not. Is it a hex or maybe a star? Anyone know what size? Question two - Where can I find a set screw that won't cost me $8 from Brownells. Kind of expensive for a 0.25 cent screw. I hate to keep bugging S&W for free stuff.

April 19, 2013, 07:35 AM	#2
cecILL Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: central IL Posts: 769	Make sure you dress your wrench!

April 19, 2013, 09:16 AM	#3
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Hopefully the screw from S&W will show up in a day or so. My other thought, did you check out the metric screw section at the hardware store and Lowes. I wouldn't think it would be but you never know. Your description of how the screw started sounds like the screw has a different pitch thread which is common with metric screws. Can't swear that is your problem but should be checked out.

April 21, 2013, 09:44 AM	#5
cecILL Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: central IL Posts: 769	Grind or file the end of the hex wrench to eliminate the "rounding" that will occur with use.