Need recommendations for a nice set of gunsmith screwdrivers.Would like to keep it below $200. Advice?

Brownells, (www.brownells.com) has two different sets. One is a Magan Tip, interchangeable tips on one handle and the best is the Master set which includes several different screwdrivers. I think the master set sells for right around $190. I have used a set for over 20 years, and they are great.

I use a magnetic tip screwdriver for most of my stuff. Get the tips from snap-on and they have the proper hollow grind to them. Plus you can get torx drivers and philips and all of them in the tiny sizes too.

I have the ever growing set of magnetic tips.
They are in a tray in my tool box that ges tipped over once a week.
I hate them.
I am ready to pay for, and haul to the range, all those expensive screwdrivers with handles.

I agree with the recommendation of the Brownell's Mag-Tip set. You can by the whole hog, or buy the starter set and fill it in later. Any 1/4" tip will fit the handle so you can use hardware store tips in a pinch. It's not the cheapest set but they are well made, fit screw slots well and Brownell's sells a wide variety of speciality tips and handles.

Brownell's customer service is first class. Once I sent them a tip that I broke removing a stuck screw. Not only did they replace it, they sent me a check for the return postage. It made me feel like such a cheapskate that I've never sent them another broken tip. (Hey, come to think of it, I am a cheapskate.)

I ground most of my screwdrivers from spring steel rod. You can buy it from hobby shops.

I have several sets by various makers, and use all of them. There is no one universal set that will do it all.

I recommend Brownell's complete Mag-Tip set, as well as Chapman's, Bonanza's, and Pachmayr's. Lyman's set of punches is also a must. You will need all of these sets sooner or later............

AD

Clark,

I'm a tool-freak and I have the Magna-Tip Super Set, with every friggen bit Brownell's sells (I doubt that I have ever used more than six or seven of the bits)...a set of Grace fixed blades...and a set of Brownell's fixed blades. I must admit that I seem to grab the Grace drivers more often just because their wooden handles are easier to hold with oily hands.

I like the "thin-set" bits for the Magna-Tip as they are much easier to use than jewelers screw drivers for those really small, thin slotted screws.

You can never have too many tools!

Rick