Crosman Vantage NP stock screws

[rafterp]

Well I was having a nice day of shooting my Vantage. Got a new UTG 3-12x44 for Christmas and wanted to sight in today. Having fun with the MilDot reticle and sighting in at 10yds. Shooting 10 shots, then adjusting. Finally got it centered up and shooting a group I could cover with a quarter (not a dime yet). Then I get a couple flyers, and the tighten your screws song starts playing in my head! I tightened them up and kept shooting. Had to re-zero. It was getting dark, so I got pretty close, then went inside. I decided to take the front screws out and loctite. Screw started to back out, then got hard to turn. Applied some more elbow grease and got it out. Cleaned it with acetone and put a bit of loctite on, and couldn't get it back in the hole! I decided to go ahead and take all three out and pull it out of the stock. Even out of the stock, I couldn't get one to take. Should I take a tap and chase those threads a bit? Can a hex head bolt be used instead of the stock phillips head? I was thinking that might help torque it down more?

[Roadworthy]

You can chase the threads with a tap.  Be advised they are METRIC!!  If you have trouble starting the screws be sure they are in alignment and not cross threaded.  Also ensure you are using METRIC screws.

Yes, you may use a hex head bolt in lieu of Allen or Phillips screws but you are unlikely to have adequate clearance for a wrench or socket.

[rafterp]

Thank you sir...I didn't even think about them being metric! I said hex head, but I meant an allen screw. The Crosman schematic says m5x14. Do you know what size tap that'd be?
I'm so bummed about this...I think I must've crossthreaded it when I tried to put it back in...now I've got a big paperweight.
 

[Roadworthy]

m5 would be a five mm screw.  The 14 is the length of the screw.  You can take your screw to wherever you would purchase a tap and compare it.  You will be unlikely to find them at a "big box" store. 

I could get one locally at Tacoma Screw or Grainger.  I suspect McMaster Carr would be another source.  You'll probably find one on eBay as well.  If you know a machinist you may be able to borrow one.  Just be sure to align it perpendicular to the surface you are turning it into.

The cost for one tap this size will probably be in the neighborhood of $8 plus shipping unless you can pick one up locally.

You could also inquire into the price of a new compression tube from Crosman or take your tube to a machine shop for thread clean up.

[rafterp]

Thanks Thomas...I found some on ebay. I think the "perpendicular" part, is part of the problem. The screws go in from an angle and I think that's how I got cross threaded. Thanks for your help!

[mentolio]

I recall a new airtube being around $30 from Crosman. That was for a Trail with weaver mount welded to it. A tube with dovetails might be a few less dollars, but for my money I would just buy the Benji Trail tube and weaver rings. Definitely try tapping first.