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AR15.COM
3/9/2004 3:26:38 PM EDT
Guys, I need help and soon!

I was replacing the grips on my Beretta 96FS with a pair of Hogue wrap-arounds, when I inadvertantly over tightened one of the hex screws.  To my surprise, the little bastard sheered off at the hex-head, and now my bushing has a headless screw in it!  How can I remove the broken screw or will I have to replace the bushing?  How hard is it to remove a grip bushing and replace it with a new one?  Please help me, I'm desperate on this; I can't shoot my gun until I get this worked out and it's my only pistol!

Thanks in advance guys.
3/9/2004 5:19:12 PM EDT
[#1]
Yes, you'll have to replace the bushing. Get them from Brownells, you're certainly not the first nor last person to do this.

You should be able to shoot the gun with only three screws holding the grips, IMO.

Good luck.
3/9/2004 6:22:23 PM EDT
[#2]
I did the exact same thing to my Beretta, and since I was dropping it off at LTT for a trigger job anyway I asked Ernest to take care of it for me.  He removed some metal off the top of the bushing to expose enough screw to remove.  

I seem to recall being told that the bushings were not as easy to replace as I thought, but can't remember why.
3/9/2004 6:50:45 PM EDT
[#3]
The bushings are threaded into aluminum and staked into place and that staking is probably part of the reason.

either that or they are slip fit and stake on (I can't remember but I understand why they could be a problem).
3/9/2004 7:13:42 PM EDT
[#4]
Shit.  I searched pretty hard at Brownells for new bushings, but I couldn't find any.  They have the tools for staking, but no bushings.  Is there anyone out there that has removed bushings and staked new ones?  If so, how complicated is this task and where can I get new bushings?  I would really like to avoid sending my gun off to a smith for repair; afterall, it's my personal defense pistol.  I'm sure I could shoot the pistol with just three grip screws, especially considering the Hogue is a monogrip, but this is not how I want to keep my gun.  BTW, what material are the factory hex-head grip screws made of?

Again, thanks for your input guys.
3/9/2004 9:01:56 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
where can I get new bushings?  

Give Beretta a call.  You'll probably sit on hold for a while but their pretty good once you get them on the phone.  I've ordered things like replacement locking blocks a few times in the past.  

You can also give Ernest at LTT(www.langdontactical.com/) a call.  He probably knows more about working on Berettas than anybody else in the world and he sells Beretta factory parts.


BTW, what material are the factory hex-head grip screws made of?
The factory screws are probably actually the same ones that Hogue sells.  Hogue makes the factory rubber grips for Beretta.
3/10/2004 3:39:07 PM EDT
[#6]
There shouldn't be much tension left if the heads gone...in other words it may unscrew fairly easy.
Maybe a small drill, centered, will turn the remaining screw all the way through.
Cutting a shallow slot, even if it means some of the bushing, may allow you to turn it out (or inwards) and the bushing should still remain usable.
Good luck