Indexing screws

[hardykev]

Is there a guide some place that shows how to index screws on a gun stock?

 

[Zonie]

Kevin: Ah ain't sure ah'm a understandin the question ceptin ta say ah don't know of a "guide" 'bout indexing screws.
Iffen yer askin which way the slots should be a pointen it is fore/aft, not up/down when the gun's a hangin on tha wall. That adds to the smooth long look o the gun in most peoples eyes.
Iffen yer usin wood screws or machine screws, the trick is ta have a bunch of them. The threads arn't put on with any locating from the slots so whan the screw is tite and the slot's a pointin up or down, try another screw. After a couple ye will find one that indexes right.

Speakin o screws, fer the machine screws ye takes out whan removin the barrel or lock, after ah find one that fits 'n whos slot points in the right direction ah case harden the head and slot with Kacenit. Lots o places carry it an it don't take no brains ta use (just a torch and a glass o water). Ye want's ta cover just the slot an the head. Ye don't want ta cover the screw shank with it cause ye don't want that to be hard and brittle.
Dixie's wantin about $5.00 fer enough ta last ye your lifetime.
Because it makes a thin "case" of very hard steel, the screw slot don't get damaged when some bonehead (like me) uses the wrong screw driver to remove the screw.

 

[Smoke Pole]

Timing screws has always been the hallmark of a fine firearm. If you have a hand drill, a file, and good eyesight, it goes pretty quick. A micrometer doesn't hurt either. All you need to do is measure the thickness of the head, calculate the lead of the screw which is expressed in it's pitch, figure out how many degrees of rotation you need to line your screw slot up, chuck the screw in your hand drill with the head sticking up far enough to get the file behind it and remove enough metal from the underside of the head which will normally be a few thousandths and bingo - the slot lines up. If you overdo it, and the screws head is going to get too thin you can punch out some shims from one thousandths stock with gasket punches which will move the screw slot counter clockwise.

 

When you countersink the hole, leave it a shade small. Run in your screw until tight. Don't overtighten. See where then slot is. If it's not lined up with the lines of the rifle, remove the screw, countersink a shade more and try again. try to get it a few degrees short of perfect. If you are useing flat head screws, file them off flush with the work preferably the last time you put them in. Be sure that you are not going to file the slot off. If done right, you should only have a very small amount of screw to file down. if you are useing domed head screws, chuck it in a drill press, and file the top down rolling the file over the head to maintain the dome. CHECK OFTEN. If you make the head too small for your countersink you will have to start with a new screw. The reason for stopping just short of perfect is if this is your goal and you overdo it a little, you will be right on. If you stop just short, after putting the screw in and out it will advance to the right position.
Cody