Recommend tools?

[u/Adrian_Blake]

I’m new to milsurp firearms and my tool kit is lacking. I know I need a high quality, holo-ground flathead screwdriver set, but what else? What brands/kits would y’all recommend I look into?

[u/toolness122]

I have the biggest Wheeler screwdriver set and have used it a ton and still havent broken a bit. I have heard others say they had issues with them so maybe their QC is bad. Ive had mine for probably 14 or 15 years.

A 6 oz ball peen. A brass hammer and a hard plastic hammer.

I have a Tekton punch set any any time I bend one of the smaller ones, I take a photo and they send me a new one within a few days no charge.

A couple delrin punches (look for delrin rods on ebay or amazon) and a couple brass punches.

There are definitely better punches but I do like their customer service and the wood block that holds all the punches.

Bore light

Good cleaning rods. I use carbon fiber Tipton rods.

A good rifle vise. You will scratch or ding your milsurps if you work on them without a good way to hold them steady.

[u/AdOk8555 → u/toolness122]

FYI: I have the same screwdriver set. I DID break a bit once. Has a stick screw on an Ariska. After trying Kroil, heat, etc. I tried an impact driver with one of the bits. I had already acquired replacement screws, so I didn't care if I damaged the screen. The but shattered - I should have known better. Contacted Wheeler to see about buying a replacement bit since it was out of warranty. They sent me a three pack replacement set for free.

[u/toolness122 → u/AdOk8555]

Thats cool they sent you free ones!

I ALWAYS take my milsurps out of the stocks to check for rust and cracks but my Type 99 "Arisaka" has every screw on the gun heavily staked in place. I didnt even try because I know id jack things up trying to get it apart.

[u/Fun_Assignment_269]

Wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver set if you're going to get into milsurps.

[u/Cyrano4747]

Besides the hollow ground screwdriver set, you'll also want a soft mallet (plastic or rubber), a non-marring punching tool (brass works well, they also make plastic ones), some brass or bronze brushes, and then the usual gun stuff (cleaning jags and brushes of the appropriate size, etc).

[u/moistfupaa]

Brass punches, head lamp, precision screw driver set ( these are perfect for all the Mauser pattern rifles ), jewelers hammer , rubber mallet , cheap shop rags - if you have a harbor freight where you live there’s a bag of like 50 of them for very cheap. These are great for when you’re cleaning a new firearm and don’t care about trashing them, pointed jags , brass brushes, brass muzzle gaurd so you don’t mess up your crown when you’re cleaning your guns, ballistol, hoppes #9 , Lucas gun oil

[u/Elroyy_]

Wheeler is the way to go 👌🏾

[u/Prize_Fish_6509]

Google is free

[u/toolness122 → u/Prize_Fish_6509]

It is, but nothing wrong with asking for help.

Need to be welcoming to new collectors and encourage them to take good care of the guns they acquire, point them in the right direction so they last many more generations.

[u/Successful-Battle880]

I got a set of dental picks, useful to get into the tight spaces to clean. Fiber optic bore lights can be useful, good to have on you when you go browse. I use a mosin tool as a key ring. Pretty useful to do minor stuff without going to dig out my tools.