Screwdriver set

[Dream Chaser, SASS #79316]

If you wanted to spend less than $100 and gift someone a set of screwdrivers/tips which brand/model would you buy if you did not know exactly which cowboy guns they have? 

Edited August 31 by Dream Chaser, SASS #79316

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

This will cover most everything you will ever need .

Rooster. 

https://a.co/d/00zMR9DP

[Griff]

While the 44 bit set is much more versatile, the 22-bit "Starter Set" is a good place to start.

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Wheeler is China made and soft.

Cry once, go with Brownells maga-tip sets.

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

I have a couple of these kits as well as some of the smaller ones and I really like them.

 

WHEELER 89 Piece Professional Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set

 

I have occasionally bent a tip but I've also occasionally broken a Brownell's tip and those sets are quite a bit more expensive.

 

Randy

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 minute ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said:

I have a couple of these kits as well as some of the smaller ones and I really like them.

 

WHEELER 89 Piece Professional Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set

 

I have occasionally bent a tip but I've also occasionally broken a Brownell's tip and those sets are quite a bit more expensive.

 

Randy

Brownells maga-tip are USA made with lifetime guarantee. 

[Sarge]

I keep these on my gun cart at all times:  Amazon.com: Chapman MFG 8900 Gun Owner Standard Screwdriver Set - Slotted, Phillips & SAE Hex Bits - Set Offers 24 USA Made Insert Bits, Mini Ratchet, Spinner, Screwdriver Handle + Extension (Yellow Case) : Tools & Home Improvement

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Sarge said:

I keep these on my gun cart at all times:  Amazon.com: Chapman MFG 8900 Gun Owner Standard Screwdriver Set - Slotted, Phillips & SAE Hex Bits - Set Offers 24 USA Made Insert Bits, Mini Ratchet, Spinner, Screwdriver Handle + Extension (Yellow Case) : Tools & Home Improvement

Have the same set on my cart.

They work well. 👍

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said:

I have a couple of these kits as well as some of the smaller ones and I really like them.

 

WHEELER 89 Piece Professional Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set

 

I have occasionally bent a tip but I've also occasionally broken a Brownell's tip and those sets are quite a bit more expensive.

 

Randy

Same experience. But overall the Wheeler has been ok for the price. The bits wobble a little in the handle. I've only twisted 2 bits. Replacement bits can be had at Midway but you will have to work with support to get the conversion from the Wheeler #. 

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Sarge said:

I keep these on my gun cart at all times:  Amazon.com: Chapman MFG 8900 Gun Owner Standard Screwdriver Set - Slotted, Phillips & SAE Hex Bits - Set Offers 24 USA Made Insert Bits, Mini Ratchet, Spinner, Screwdriver Handle + Extension (Yellow Case) : Tools & Home Improvement

I carry that kit in my cart box. Good for the rare emergency!!!

[Kid Rich]

Brownells.

kR

[Shawnee Hills]

Buy hardened US made bits and preserve the integrity of the screw heads.  Buggered screw heads are frustrating to deal with.

[Frontier Lone Rider]

Cody once told me that he uses the Brownells maga-tip sets and when he wears one out or beaks one, they send him a replacement.  I have followed his lead and now have several sets of the Brownells maga-tips.

[Tucker McNeely]

2 hours ago, Kid Rich said:

Brownells.

kR

I agree. I have the same Brownell set I bought in 2011. You won’t regret it. 

[Arth Ritis]

20 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Wheeler is China made and soft.

Cry once, go with Brownells maga-tip sets.

 I went for Brownells magna-tips and bent like 4 of them on first use... haven't tried to warranty them but I wouldn't say they are particularly hard. At least they are no match for Uberti factory screws... penetrating oil, fire, hand impact driver, and a minisledge hammer is what it took... (along with bending those tips in the hand impact so I think I should probably just repurchase them rather than warranty)

 

*edit* will say better than being too brittle and snapping though and they got it done

Edited Tuesday at 04:14 PM by Arth Ritis

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Howdy Dream Chaser

Would it be possible for you to find out what sort of guns that person has?  Because there are lists of specific Brownells tips for various cowboy guns.

[John Kloehr]

The one in the link is the Midway rebranded Callahan tool set, currently $50. The Callahan has a red case. This stays in my home toolbox. It has had everything I have needed so far. Not really for travel.

 

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019558772?pid=284205&avad=211021_e4ecda799&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=35987&utm_campaign=211021&utm_content=NA&avad_ttl=1788284734

 

Edited Tuesday at 04:51 PM by John Kloehr

[doc roy l. pain]

If you’re using them on Italian made guns, I think you’ll find the wheeler sets are more than adequate. The screw heads are softer than the driver bits. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Arth Ritis said:

 I went for Brownells magna-tips and bent like 4 of them on first use... haven't tried to warranty them but I wouldn't say they are particularly hard. At least they are no match for Uberti factory screws... penetrating oil, fire, hand impact driver, and a minisledge hammer is what it took... (along with bending those tips in the hand impact so I think I should probably just repurchase them rather than warranty)

 

*edit* will say better than being too brittle and snapping though and they got it done

What size bit did you use?

Take a picture of them and call Brownells for replacement. 

Can you post a picture of the screw?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, John Kloehr said:

The one in the link is the Midway rebranded Callahan tool set, currently $50. The Callahan has a red case. This stays in my home toolbox. It has had everything I have needed so far. Not really for travel.

 

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019558772?pid=284205&avad=211021_e4ecda799&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=35987&utm_campaign=211021&utm_content=NA&avad_ttl=1788284734

 

Do you know where they are made? 🤔

[John Kloehr]

34 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Do you know where they are made? 🤔

No idea. It is a quality kit.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, John Kloehr said:

No idea. It is a quality kit.

From what little information I can find.

Looks like they are China made. 

I have never seen them so can't say about their durability. 

[John Kloehr]

19 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

From what little information I can find.

Looks like they are China made. 

I have never seen them so can't say about their durability. 

The chart in the lid does lay out 3 different torques maximums for the various tips. They look to be quality tips, and properly ground. Callahan Tool Company is generally good regardless of sourcing.

 

I have also heard good things about the Brownells kits.

 

Agree with staying away from junk chinese products, but not all chinese products are junk. They are pretty good at making iPhones.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

2 hours ago, John Kloehr said:

The chart in the lid does lay out 3 different torques maximums for the various tips. They look to be quality tips, and properly ground. Callahan Tool Company is generally good regardless of sourcing.

 

I have also heard good things about the Brownells kits.

 

Agree with staying away from junk chinese products, but not all chinese products are junk. They are pretty good at making iPhones.

I have been using the Brownells maga-tip super set for 20+years and have no regrets. 

The few times I had to replace a bit. It was just a call to Brownells to have it on its way. 

[Lucky R. K.]

I use Brownell's gunsmithing set on my workbench and Dewalt's set on my gun cart. I have added a Nipple wrench to each for when I shoot cap and ball.

Lucky 😁

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

About 10 years ago my LGS got in a case or two of Winchester screwdriver sets somewhere pretty cheap. He sold them for $5 a set. I bought two sets. One is in my gun cart, and the other at my loading bench. I don't have to tell you they didn't last too long in the shop.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

On 8/31/2026 at 1:02 PM, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

This will cover most everything you will ever need .

Rooster. 

https://a.co/d/00zMR9DP

 

That's the one I have, and it works well for me.

And, they stand behind the product.   I've had a couple of bits break over the years, and all I did was send them a photo and they sent me 2 replacements each time, for no charge.

They even sent me one bit I had lost at no charg.

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

My Brownells magnatip’s set is approaching 20 years old, and I have had exactly 2 bits replaced under warranty for bending. Good quality tools are worth every penny you spend on them. 
Cheap tools are like what Mr Pettifogger used to say about drop in parts, “they work (drop in) till they don’t!”

Regards

    

Gateway Kid

[Arth Ritis]

On 9/1/2026 at 1:57 PM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

What size bit did you use?

Take a picture of them and call Brownells for replacement. 

Can you post a picture of the screw?

 

I bent a 210-4, 180-5, 180-4 at a minimum thought there was a fourth. As for a picture of the screw... it might be in a bag of replacement screws outside it was never returned to the firearm though. It was one of the two spring screws on a Taylors Uberti 1873 that I got used suspect it had never been torn down as it needed to be cleaned when I got it.

 

[Stump Water]

The cat's meow used to be Cylinder & Slide screwdrivers.  Don't know what happened to that outfit.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

48 minutes ago, Arth Ritis said:

 

I bent a 210-4, 180-5, 180-4 at a minimum thought there was a fourth. As for a picture of the screw... it might be in a bag of replacement screws outside it was never returned to the firearm though. It was one of the two spring screws on a Taylors Uberti 1873 that I got used suspect it had never been torn down as it needed to be cleaned when I got it.

 

Call Brownells and be ready to send that picture. 

I have twisted a couple like that, they didn't break.

[Mossy Horn Gent]

I agree with the others who suggest the Brownells maga-tip sets. I have seen lists published identifying the bits requires for each specific firearm. Probably the best bit, if sized coreccly, for soft metal screws.

[Mossy Horn Gent]

John Boy posted this list of Brownells magna tip bits back in January 2011:

 

Pietta 51 Navy Colt

183-148*

496-238

373-923

696-774

141-491

241-958*

 

Pietta 58 NMA

241-958

183-148

110-795

 

And for the good of the order, here are some Brownells Bits, firearm specific:

 

Ruger Single Action:

150-4 *

180-3 *

180-4

210-4 *

 

Rossi 92:

150-4 *

180-3 *

180-5

210-4 *

270-4

300-5

340-5 ... * means same bit, multiple firearms

 

Colt/clone SAA set:

 

340-3

300-3

270-3

210-3

180-3

 

Marlin 336 set:

 

300-4

270-3

200-3

180-4

180-3

120-3

Marlin 1894:

180-3

180-4

240-3

270-3

 

Win 97:

120-3

150-3

180-3

300-3

 

Ruger BH

180-3

210-4

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Mossy Horn Gent