Difference Between Gunsmith and Normal Screwdrivers

What is the Difference Between Gunsmith and Regular Screwdrivers?

 

Differences Between Normal and Gunsmith Screwdriver
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A sign of a poor gunsmith is using normal screwdrivers on a gun.  However not all individuals that like guns know the difference between a normal and gunsmith screwdriver.  This post will fix that.

I am a kitchen table gunsmith myself, and before I learned about using hollow ground screwdrivers on my firearms I buggered up plenty of firearms.

Normal Screwdrivers are Taper Ground

A normal screwdriver is taper ground.  The manufacturer took a shaft of steel, and then smashed the end into a wedge.

As you can see from the picture below, the tapered shaft on the left does not fully engage with the entire screw slot.

This means that the torque from tightening the screw is unevenly applied.  This can damage the screw threads, and is the mark of an inexperience and/or uneducated gun smith.

Gunsmith Screwdrivers are Hollow Ground

Types of ScrewdriversIn comparison, the screw driver in the middle of the picture is hollow ground and the screwdriver shaft is ground down in a concave shape to allow the entire screw thread to be filled.

The driver transmits the torque to be transmitted evenly.  As a result, damage to the screw is prevented.  Additionally, a hollow ground screwdriver has a head that is the same diameter of the shaft.  Therefore, it will fit down inside of tubes easier.

If you have ever had the wide head of a tapered screwdriver keep you from unscrewing the back of a piece of electronics you will know what I am talking about.

In conclusion, proper tools don’t cost a whole lot more than improper tools (with the case of hollow ground drivers, they cost the same or less) but make your work easier and contribute to a professional repair.  I bought my set of screwdriver bits for under $20 online and now I don’t damage anymore gun screws.

Store What You Use, and Use What You Store

Prepper Precepts #19 Store What You Use, and Use What You Store

 

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Store what you can use, and use what you store. I don’t buy books I won’t read, clothes I won’t wear, food I won’t eat, or Hip Hop music. I also don’t buy things I don’t know how to use.

This is hard sometimes, as deals can be made and you can sometimes get food on sale, but having all the freeze dried broccoli won’t do a thing if a family member would rather starve than eat something unpalatable.

This has happen in disasters, and is more common than a survivor personality would think.

This particular example of prepper precepts is common in almost every prepper’s rulebook.  Either written or unwritten it is ubiquitous in the sub-culture.

Store what you can use, and use what you store stops waste and builds comfort and confidence.

You know what you like and you know how it works.

Rules of Civility: The 110 Precepts that Guided Our First President in War and Peace

These precepts are my creed, and having prepper precepts guides me when I face tough choices.  A wise man once told me that when facing a moral problem, the right choice is usually the action you don’t want to take.

I am not a pollyanna person that is wishy washy or blindly follows rules, heck I have a little rebellious streak and love to know the WHY of rules, but I do respect and understand the need for law and know how vital it is for a society to have a moral code.

By knowing what I believe in you can know how I will act. This is very important in times of stress.  If you don’t want to read these precepts one by one, the completed list can be found here: Completed 27 Prepper Precepts.

My Plans are Generic as Possible

Prepper Precepts #18 My Plans are Generic as Possible

 

52 Unique Techniques for Stocking Food for Prepper
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My plans are generic as possible. In the Emergency Management world that is called “all-Hazards” planning.

I prep and plan for all hazards, and not specific events. How many people bought into the Y2K, and then let their food rot because they felt silly. My food storage is for when I cannot buy groceries.  It does not matter to me that it might be because I lost my job, or I am under quarantine for bird flu.  When I need it, all that matters is I have it, not why I need it.

Spend time working toward solutions that are likely to happen – in my area tornados and floods are more common than ice storms and earthquakes.

Ice Storms and earthquakes are possible here so I do prepare for them, but I try to make plans that are not specific to each of those four threats, but make plans that account for them and any other likely events.

Keep Your Prepper Plans Generic and Suitable for All Hazards

Rules of Civility: The 110 Precepts that Guided Our First President in War and Peace

These precepts are my creed, and having prepper precepts guides me when I face tough choices.  A wise man once told me that when facing a moral problem, the right choice is usually the action you don’t want to take.

I am not a pollyanna person that is wishy washy or blindly follows rules, heck I have a little rebellious streak and love to know the WHY of rules, but I do respect and understand the need for law and know how vital it is for a society to have a moral code.

By knowing what I believe in you can know how I will act. This is very important in times of stress.  If you don’t want to read these precepts one by one, the completed list can be found here: Completed 27 Prepper Precepts.

Charity is Important to a Preparedness Plan

Prepper Precepts #17 Charity is an Important Part of a Preparedness Plan

 

52 Unique Techniques for Stocking Food for Prepper
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Charity is important, but charity is not enabling others to be lazy or rewarding bad behaviors. If you work hard, someone that refuses to work has no moral demand on your labor. However, I would have a hard time swallowing a meal if I refused to help a hungry child, widow, or a disabled person. God gave us free will; he also was clear about the consequences for bad behavior. In my house you contribute, or you don’t eat.

I love people, and I want to help as much as I can, but my first duty is to my family.  My child will not go hungry because you failed to prepare to feed yours.

Rules of Civility: The 110 Precepts that Guided Our First President in War and Peace
These precepts are my creed, and having prepper precepts guides me when I face tough choices.  A wise man once told me that when facing a moral problem, the right choice is usually the action you don’t want to take.

I am not a pollyanna person that is wishy washy or blindly follows rules, heck I have a little rebellious streak and love to know the WHY of rules, but I do respect and understand the need for law and know how vital it is for a society to have a moral code.

By knowing what I believe in you can know how I will act. This is very important in times of stress.  If you don’t want to read these precepts one by one, the completed list can be found here: Completed 27 Prepper Precepts.

Be Balanced in Your plan

Prepper Precepts #16 Be Balanced in Your plan

 

52 Unique Techniques for Stocking Food for Prepper
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Be balanced in your plan. All food no gun, makes you vulnerable to those with all gun and no food. It’s better to have a lower level of prep that is more versatile.  You must cover water, food, shelter, defense, communications, and medical.  You should not have an extremely high level of preparedness that covers only one or two areas.

This is something I see all of the time.  People who claim the title preppers but have thousands of dollars in guns and tactical gear but do not have any food storage.  How long would it be before you were bartering away all your ammo cans of .223 for canned soup if you had a starving child?

I used to work with a particular Air Force Colonel that would on occasion ask me what I did to prep that weekend, It always ended up with him talking about his new AR or the cases of ammo he bought.  All guns he was.  no food.  eventually I asked what would happen if he ran out of food.  He said he would go out and acquire some.  I replied – so you are planning on becoming a criminal.  He stopped asking about my preps after that.

Be balanced in your plan, be balanced in your preps, be balanced in your life.  It matters.

Rules of Civility: The 110 Precepts that Guided Our First President in War and Peace

These precepts are my creed, and having prepper precepts guides me when I face tough choices.  A wise man once told me that when facing a moral problem, the right choice is usually the action you don’t want to take.

I am not a pollyanna person that is wishy washy or blindly follows rules, heck I have a little rebellious streak and love to know the WHY of rules, but I do respect and understand the need for law and know how vital it is for a society to have a moral code.

By knowing what I believe in you can know how I will act. This is very important in times of stress.  If you don’t want to read these precepts one by one, the completed list can be found here: Completed 27 Prepper Precepts.