Hello,

I have an early 50's Beretta 410E SXS with a very nicely refinished stock and likely original European-style sling swivels. The one in the butt stock is loose, but not stripped out. It can't be tightened any more because: 1) the swivel would likely gouge the stock, and 2) it wouldn't be timed correctly anymore. I would like to keep the sling swivels as they come in handy in the field.

I have some ideas on how to fix it but I am reminded of what my arborist once told me about trimming trees, that there were a lot of wrong ways but only one right way. Gun repairs probably fall into that category, too.

Fixes I've thought about and read about include:

1. teflon tape on the threads
2. toothpicks to take up some space in the hole and tighten the fit
3. back fill the hole with epoxy and thread the stud in with some release agent on the threads

The problem with these old type swivels is that they don't rotate azimuthally, only in elevation so there is always some torque on threads. Any recommendation on any of these methods or other ways of doing this?

Thanks,

Bruce

One question first, Bruce. Do you really want to retain the sling swivels, and if not, where is the front swivel mounted, on the forend wood, or on the bottom rib?

SRH

Stan,

I would like to retain them, and the front swivel is on attached to the bottom rib with two machine screws. I did look at the New England Custom Gun site since they sell many accessories for European guns but there does not seem to have been much in the way of advancements in sling swivels since 1952 when this gun was built.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,
You could always ream out the hole, glue in a piece of dowel, and then drill the dowel to fit the swivel stud.
I'm with you, sling swivels on a shotgun are extremely handy when you have to walk aways to get to your duck blind (or wherever).

Take care,
J.R.

Actually, if I wanted to keep the swivels I would just push some epoxy down in the hole and screw it in, and forget about it. Unless it is a very expensive or rare gun, no harm done. Sounds like you're serious about using it, so it's not going to stay pristine anyway. The dowel is the more accepted way of addressing it, but would require a walnut dowel, and careful blending with stain, walnut dust the right color, and light sanding to completely hide it, IMO. And, if it's carried with the sling a lot it's might eventually loosen again anyway. That epoxy will end the problem.

Good luck, SRH

epoxy with release agent on threads...

Gents,

The sling comes in handy handling two pointing dogs. Dogs must have some kind of sixth sense because wherever you lay your (unloaded) gun down they will shake muddy water all over it and then stomp on it.

The dowel fix is of course the preferred method from my googling (and only method if it had pulled out, Midway has a video on it I found) but my thoughts were exactly as expressed that eventually (maybe in another 66 years?) it would loosen again.

Recoil Rob, one question on the epoxy method: do you time the screw exactly as it should end up, or back off an eighth or quarter turn and snug it up after it sets up?

I'll admit for the reasons Stan expressed that I am leaning towards his method, but I like the elegance (and reversibility) of the epoxy casting approach. Thank you all for the feedback.

Bruce

There is nothing like over complicating a repair!!! Just do as I do though I must admit I have only come across this problem a couple of times, because slings on shotguns are not a very common or popular on this side of the pond. Any way back to the simple extremely cheap and reversible repair, Just put the correct size plastic screw wall plug in the hole and screw in the swivel there will be enough give in the plastic to time the screw. I have no intention of explaining how it is reversible.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Bruce