1377 breech screw issue

[Tater]

A while back I bought two, larger allen size breech screws. I put them on a 1377 steel breech and a 2240 plastic breech. Neither were ever removed since.
Today I was planning on working on the 1377 so I went to remove the breech and could not get an allen key to fit or grab. Went up and got the 2240 to try to confirm the allen size and it grabbed right away and fit perfect. I tried every which way to get at the 13377 screw and not even close. I didn't strip or break loose while tightening either of them, but the 1377 screw looks like crap. Here are pics of each:

2240 plastic




1377 steel


Anyone know how I can loosen it up? Very frustrated here.

[Oldnshakey]

Your photo for the 1377 screw doesn't show up.  You might try some metric allen wrenches if available.  Is your std. set of good quality.  Sometimes the less expensive sets are not sized exactly right.  Other than that, an easy out set may be required.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-PC-RIGID-SCREW-EXTRACTOR-SET-DRILL-EASY-OUT-HAND-TOOL-/201158165242?hash=item2ed5f602fa&item=201158165242&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

Edit:  now the photo is showing   Wow! that does look bad.  Can't imagine what happened to that screw.  You might try filing a flat blade screwdriver to fit across the points inside the hole and tapping it first then trying to loosen it.  It may also help to put a clamp or vise over the breech and the air tube and squeezing them together.  Sometimes this will take some of the pressure off the screw and allow it to loosen easier.

[BigErn]

Tater that steel breech might be shot  . Looks like the pellets might have been rubbing on the new larger size screw and that wore down the breech. I hope I'm wrong 

[Tater]

It is a standard set of allen wrenches but they grab well in the 2240 and the ends of them don't look too bad.
What gets me is the gun was modded and already put together when I switched to the bigger screws. I wasn't messing with holding the gun together or anything, just put the new screw in without a hitch. Haven't touched it since.

Do you know offhand if the smallest screw extractor in the set will fit the breech screw? It doesn't list the sizes.

[Tater]

Tater that steel breech might be shot  . Looks like the pellets might have been rubbing on the new larger size screw and that wore down the breech. I hope I'm wrong 

The screw is pretty far recessed. I hope the pellets didn't wear down the breech, didn't even know they could do that.

[twigboy]

Not a chance.  Lead has a hardness of 1.5 while steel has 4 to 4.5 (hardened steel can be up to 7).   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness.   A fingernail has hardness of about 2.5, which is why you can scratch/gouge lead with a fingernail but not mark steel.

[rangerfredbob]

Try some small torx bits, they're usually a bit different in size and the teeth will bite in better, and possibly won't strip the screw...

[Tater]

I ended up getting a set of left handed drill bits from Harbor Freight and they worked.  Took a few tries, but I finally got it out and polished the barrel lead.