Mossberg anti-tamper safety screw

deanf · December 23, 1999, 05:48 AM

What are these screws called, so I can buy a screwdriver for one? Thanks.

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Stay cloze to ze candles, ze staircase (dramatic pause) . . . can be trecherous.

[This message has been edited by deanf (edited December 23, 1999).]

George Stringer · December 23, 1999, 06:42 AM

Dean, this is something I haven't seen yet. The only Mossbergs I've worked on have had phillips screws in the safety. It might be a torx head. If it looks similar to an allen head then it's a torx. George

deanf · December 23, 1999, 07:55 AM

Thanks. No it's not a torx. It's the kind of screw you can tighten with a slot head screwdriver, but then you can't loosen. Seen those tamper proof screw heads in public restrooms? It's like that. I have one on my 500 in .410 that's about 10 years old, and on my 590 12 ga, which is a bit newer.

James K · December 23, 1999, 03:20 PM

I didn't recall those being used on the Mossberg, but the quick answer is you can't buy a screwdriver, which is why they are tamperproof.

When the head is exposed, you can cut a slot with the cutting wheel of a Dremel tool, and use a regular screwdriver. Otherwise, you have to drill them out or use a broken screw extractor.

Jim

deanf · December 23, 1999, 06:41 PM

Hmmm. So I guess the next question would be: Why would they build them with a screw you can't take out?

HankL · December 23, 1999, 07:49 PM

It's because they don't trust you to be messing with the safety. I had to go through it once on my brother inlaw's Mod. 500. The safety didn't work from the factory and they didn't want to send me the replacement parts!
I was right before some hunting season and we didn't have time to deal with a repair center. I finnally convinced Mossberg to sent the parts. As I recall, I had to booger up the anti tamper screw to get it out but I had a brand new one in hand that came with all of the other safety parts. If you really need to take it apart Brownells has new screws as well as the other safety parts.
Good Luck,
Hank

[This message has been edited by HankL (edited December 23, 1999).]

Mike Baugh · December 23, 1999, 07:55 PM

They actually do make a screwdriver for these screws . It resembles a nut driver with a slotted screwdriver in the middle . You have to press hard on the screw when you remove it [this keeps the blade in the screw slot] I have always been able to remove these with a well fitting straight screwdriver by pressing firmly , and keeping the blade centered in the screw head while turning slowly , be careful not to slip and stab yourself . These are called "Tamper Proof Screws" . Good luck , Mike...

George Stringer · December 23, 1999, 08:49 PM

Oooooh! That kind! Dean, if you were to clamp the receiver in a padded vise I believe you could get the screw started out with a small drift punch. George

HankL · December 23, 1999, 09:35 PM

George hit the nail, er screw on the head!
Dean, why do you need to take it off?
Hank

deanf · December 23, 1999, 10:41 PM

well the safety button on the .410 broke off a few years ago, and I'd kind of like to get the gun back in service. It appears the screw must come out to install the new button.

HankL · December 24, 1999, 12:01 AM

Go for it Dean, If the button is broken all the way off you might be able to get a needle nose on it and save the screw. Please check with Brownells to make sure you get the right parts as some are listed differently for the 410.
You have got em scared now!
Hank

HankL · January 12, 2000, 09:00 PM

I ran across this today while looking for someting else in a McMasters-Carr catalog.
Round Head One-Way Screw is the name of the beast. They sell a One-Way Screw removal tool that looks like a button spanner on the end of a screwdriver for around 16 bucks.
They do say that if the screw was installed by machine "tightly?" you will still have to resort to GUNSMITIN
Hank

December 23, 1999, 05:48 AM	#1
deanf Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 1999 Location: N47º 12’ x W122º 10' Posts: 1,599	What are these screws called, so I can buy a screwdriver for one? Thanks. ------------------ Stay cloze to ze candles, ze staircase (dramatic pause) . . . can be trecherous. [This message has been edited by deanf (edited December 23, 1999).]

December 23, 1999, 06:42 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Dean, this is something I haven't seen yet. The only Mossbergs I've worked on have had phillips screws in the safety. It might be a torx head. If it looks similar to an allen head then it's a torx. George

December 23, 1999, 07:55 AM	#3
deanf Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 1999 Location: N47º 12’ x W122º 10' Posts: 1,599	Thanks. No it's not a torx. It's the kind of screw you can tighten with a slot head screwdriver, but then you can't loosen. Seen those tamper proof screw heads in public restrooms? It's like that. I have one on my 500 in .410 that's about 10 years old, and on my 590 12 ga, which is a bit newer.

December 23, 1999, 03:20 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I didn't recall those being used on the Mossberg, but the quick answer is you can't buy a screwdriver, which is why they are tamperproof. When the head is exposed, you can cut a slot with the cutting wheel of a Dremel tool, and use a regular screwdriver. Otherwise, you have to drill them out or use a broken screw extractor. Jim

December 23, 1999, 06:41 PM	#5
deanf Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 1999 Location: N47º 12’ x W122º 10' Posts: 1,599	Hmmm. So I guess the next question would be: Why would they build them with a screw you can't take out?

December 23, 1999, 07:49 PM	#6
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	It's because they don't trust you to be messing with the safety. I had to go through it once on my brother inlaw's Mod. 500. The safety didn't work from the factory and they didn't want to send me the replacement parts! I was right before some hunting season and we didn't have time to deal with a repair center. I finnally convinced Mossberg to sent the parts. As I recall, I had to booger up the anti tamper screw to get it out but I had a brand new one in hand that came with all of the other safety parts. If you really need to take it apart Brownells has new screws as well as the other safety parts. Good Luck, Hank [This message has been edited by HankL (edited December 23, 1999).]

December 23, 1999, 07:55 PM	#7
Mike Baugh Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 1998 Location: Indiana Posts: 405	They actually do make a screwdriver for these screws . It resembles a nut driver with a slotted screwdriver in the middle . You have to press hard on the screw when you remove it [this keeps the blade in the screw slot] I have always been able to remove these with a well fitting straight screwdriver by pressing firmly , and keeping the blade centered in the screw head while turning slowly , be careful not to slip and stab yourself . These are called "Tamper Proof Screws" . Good luck , Mike...

December 23, 1999, 08:49 PM	#8
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Oooooh! That kind! Dean, if you were to clamp the receiver in a padded vise I believe you could get the screw started out with a small drift punch. George

December 23, 1999, 09:35 PM	#9
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	George hit the nail, er screw on the head! Dean, why do you need to take it off? Hank

December 23, 1999, 10:41 PM	#10
deanf Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 1999 Location: N47º 12’ x W122º 10' Posts: 1,599	well the safety button on the .410 broke off a few years ago, and I'd kind of like to get the gun back in service. It appears the screw must come out to install the new button.

December 24, 1999, 12:01 AM	#11
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Go for it Dean, If the button is broken all the way off you might be able to get a needle nose on it and save the screw. Please check with Brownells to make sure you get the right parts as some are listed differently for the 410. You have got em scared now! Hank

January 12, 2000, 09:00 PM	#12
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	I ran across this today while looking for someting else in a McMasters-Carr catalog. Round Head One-Way Screw is the name of the beast. They sell a One-Way Screw removal tool that looks like a button spanner on the end of a screwdriver for around 16 bucks. They do say that if the screw was installed by machine "tightly?" you will still have to resort to GUNSMITIN Hank