There is an easy way to get really torqued off when doing gun work, and that is to break off a screw head or damage your work piece. Real Avid solves both potential problems with their new Smart-Torq Limiter and X3 Driver Kits.
by Rob Reaser
For way too many years, I never considered torque specifications when installing parts on or reassembling firearms. “Tight enough” or “plenty snug” served as my “by feel” torque wrench. Eventually, though, such a casual attitude catches up with you. All it takes is to break off a screw head in a work piece to make you rethink this lackadaisical approach to gun tinkering. Anyone who has had to dig out a broken screw or drill-and-tap a whoopsie knows what I’m talking about.
Manufacturers (at least the good ones) provide torque specifications for a reason. Whether you are installing an optic, say, a red dot on a pistol slide, clamping scope rings, snugging up action screws, or reinstalling a side plate on a revolver, tightening attaching hardware to within the manufacturer’s specified torque range is essential for the assembly to operate properly and to prevent costly damage. Get lazy and ignore these guidelines and you will, sooner or later, experience major regret.
Except for certain torque applications on AR-15s, most torque requirements on firearms and accessories are measured in inch-pounds rather than foot-pounds — the former being a lower torque unit than the latter. Most folks who do their own automotive maintenance and modifications will have a ft-lb torque wrench or two on hand. Not so much when it comes to in-lb torque wrenches.
Then there is the issue of driver bit types. With firearms and firearms accessories, attaching hardware can have slot-head, hex-head, Torx-head, and sometimes hex-head socket screw caps. If you plan on doing a fair amount of DIY gun work, you need a torque wrench set that can handle the gamut of attaching hardware types. Historically, herding all those cats has not been an easy task.
That’s where Real Avid — manufacturer of some of the slickest, most innovative DIY gun tools — comes in.
For 2025, Real Avid is offering two new in-lb torque kits for DIY gun fans. One features an adjustable torque limiter and the other centers on a set of fixed torque limiters. Both kits revolve around Real Avid’s equally new X3 Driver system.
X3 Driver
The X3 Driver is a single tool that serves three different functions. The primary component is a quarter-inch drive ratchet that performs like any other ratchet. It is used to drive the assorted bits that come with each kit. It employs a 72-tooth mechanism for minute directional control and comes with a thumb wheel for quick adjustments without having to manipulate the handle. Real Avid also offers a 4-inch extension for the driver.
In the center of the ratchet handle is a quarter-inch hex slot. This accepts all the quarter-inch hex bits and limiters found in the respective kits. In this configuration, the X3 Driver becomes a T-handle. I’ve found this to be a handy arrangement for gaining more precise control when starting certain screws and for maintaining perpendicular alignment on screwheads with shallow slots.
The bottom of the ratchet handle also features a hex slot, to which you can fit all the hex bits and limiters. With this feature, the X3 Driver works like a screwdriver, offering fast spins for long-shank screws and fine motor control. A magnet in the base of the hex slot keeps the bits in place.
Real Avid sells the X3 Driver as a standalone kit and includes it in the two limiter kits we’re discussing here. This is a great add-on for your bench since it will work with any quarter-inch drive bits you may already have. Included in this kit as well as in the Smart-Torq Fixed Limiter & X3 Driver Kit discussed here is a four-inch extension that accepts quarter-inch hex bits. This is great for long-reach screws, such as those often found in grips and buttstocks.
Smart-Torq Adjustable Limiter & X3 Driver Kit
If you only have the scratch for one in-lb torque kit, this is the one you want. Powered by the X3 Driver system, the Smart-Torq Adjustable Limiter & X3 Driver Kit leans on Real Avid’s adjustable torque limiter. The limiter, like conventional torque wrenches, is manually adjusted for precise torque settings from 15 to 65 in-lbs in one-pound increments. That covers pretty much every torque range you’ll encounter in DIY firearms work.
The limiter uses a hex bit that fits in any of the three X3 Driver slots. You can use it in the ratchet, T-handle, and screwdriver configurations. Simply adjust the limiter to the desired torque setting, slide the lock to maintain the setting, install the appropriate driver bit, and tighten.
In addition to the adjustable limiter and X3 Driver Kit, this system includes a half-inch socket, quarter-inch hex-to-square adapter, and a 12-piece bit set covering the most common hex and Torx sizes, plus a Phillips-head and a slot-head bit. All components come in a compartmentalized and zippered protective case that fits easily in your range bag or on your work bench.
Smart-Torq Fixed Limiter & X3 Driver Kit
If you would rather not bother with manually dialing in your torque settings, you might want to consider the Smart-Torq Fixed Limiter & X3 Driver Kit. With this kit, you get six hex bits, four Torx bits, a #2 Phillips bit, and a 5mm slot-head bit plus a quarter-inch socket adapter and a 1/2-inch socket.
The difference with this kit is that, in addition to the X3 Driver and 4-inch extension, it uses individual fixed torque limiters instead of a single adjustable limiter. These limiters come preset for 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 65 in-lbs.
The limiters fit into any of the driver’s quarter-inch slots, allowing you to choose your torquing method. The opposite end of the limiter has a hex slot to accommodate the various bits in the kit. To use, turn the limiter until you click the integral overload clutch. Your screw is now installed +/-5% to the designated torque requirement.
One of the things I like about this fixed torque limiter system is that it is super simple to use. There are no manual adjustments, as mentioned earlier, and there is no reset required. On manual torque wrenches, you should return the wrench to its zero setting before storage. That is something I forget to do about 50-percent of the time. With a fixed limiter, just put it back in the case when you’re done.
Speaking of cases, this kit comes with a nifty hard case that keeps all the components organized and easily accessible.
Torque values are important whenever you are installing attaching hardware. They ensure the components will stay in place as designed, and that screw heads don’t snap off from over-tightening or that screw heads and threaded shanks won’t shear under the stress of recoil or accidental impact. Pay attention to those numbers, and these kits from Real Avid will get you there.
