Gunsmithing screwdrivers

Since I wrote the article on Improving Smith & Wesson Revolver Triggers, I have received several questions about gunsmith screwdrivers.  One question is "How can you say people should budget $100 for screwdrivers, and then not say what to buy?"

Well, when I wrote the article, I made an intentional choice not to recommend a brand of screwdrivers.  I have a decent set of screwdrivers, but they are not perfect, so I decided not to recommend them.  And I have not tried enough other screwdrivers to make a thoughtful recommendation.  Besides, I am not trying to give a recommendation for every product that someone might need.  My goal is to introduce important topics and provide enough information that people can avoid common pitfalls.

My hope is that anyone who reads my article will google for something like "gunsmith screwdrivers" or "hollow ground screwdriver set" instead of just looking for screwdrivers at the hardware store.  And anyone who searches for the right things, and reads some reviews, will end up with a decent set of hollow ground screwdrivers.  I understand that people like specific instructions, but sometimes general information is useful, even if it is not definitive.

If you are interested in a more detailed discussion of screwdrivers, the link below has some interesting perspective from a master gunsmith.  When the guns are works of art, the tools to maintain them are taken very seriously.

Finegunmaking.com - Gunsmithing Screwdrivers For Double Guns

New article on improving the triggers in Smith & Wesson revolvers

I have written an article about improving the triggers in Smith & Wesson revolvers. This is not a tutorial article about changing springs or stoning parts. Instead, it is an introduction to some general principles about how revolvers work.

Improving the trigger on Smith & Wesson Revolvers

Part one of the article covers general concepts about gunsmithing and discusses the meaning of a "good" trigger. If you want a better trigger, this part will be useful whether or not you want to do the work yourself.

Part two of the article contains more detailed information that will be helpful if you want to try working on your own revolver.

Thoughts on the Savage Accutrigger

I recently shot a Savage bolt action rifle with an Accutrigger. The Accutrigger was not only light, but also very crisp. It really was a delight to shoot. And it reminded me what a game changer the Accutrigger was when it was released in 2002.

I think many people have forgotten just how mediocre the triggers used to be on most hunting rifles. It was just accepted that a stock trigger would be adequate for field use, and if you wanted more than that, then you had to pay a gunsmith. The Accutrigger was a huge improvement. Out of the box, it was as good as a gunsmith trigger on many other guns. I do not consider myself to be a Savage fanboy, but they do deserve credit here.

And pretty quickly, all the other manufacturers had to catch up. These days there are lots of moderately priced rifles with good triggers. And if you are enjoying an affordable rifle with a good trigger, then regardless of who made your rifle, you owe thanks to Savage and also to market competition.

New article on how to sight in a scope

I have written a new article about how to sight in a scope.  This article is intended for anyone who is sighting in an optic for the first time.

How to Sight In a Scope

Do not make basic firearms instruction political

If you are bringing new shooters to the range, do not make the situation overly political.  This is an important issue which I did not discuss in my articles about bringing new shooters to the range.  Here are links to the articles if you have not seen them.

Part 1: Bringing New Shooters to the Range
Part 2: Making a Lesson Plan for New Shooters


I suspect that for many of my readers, firearms freedoms are a central political issue.  I support that view.  But the best thing you can do to advance firearms freedom is make new shooters comfortable, teach them safe practices, and get them interested in firearms training and ownership.

When you work with new shooters, keep the discussions focused on how to handle and use firearms safely.  There is a lot of information to cover in those areas.  If people become interested in owning firearms, that will have more effect on their views about gun rights than any political discussion could have.

Of course, people who are new to shooting may believe misconceptions about firearms which are widely spread in the media.  These views may be frustrating, and you may feel the need to correct blatant falsehoods.  But keep in mind that none of this is very important on someone's first day at the range. Creating a positive first experience at the range is much more important.  If your new shooters become interested in shooting, they will slowly learn the basic truths about how firearms work.  And they will learn for themselves which restrictions are an undue burden.

There are some things that everyone at the range needs to agree on.  Most importantly, there cannot be different opinions about firearms safety.  But people are entitled to have different political viewpoints, and that is a part of the basic freedoms that I believe in.  By making the range a welcoming place for new shooters, we can make gun rights stronger for the long term.

Helping new shooters get started

Helping new shooters get started is a great American tradition, but it also includes significant responsibilities.

I have posted two articles about bringing new shooters to the range. The first article talks generally about getting new shooters started successfully. The second article describes a basic lesson plan of subjects to discuss with new shooters.