I had the same thing happen yesterday except my stud did actually come out and my rifle went barrel first into the dirt. Luckily the ground was soft and it was just a few feet of the ground. The barrel did get dirt in it so today i am doing a good cleaning job.

I plant to try the jb weld method as i have read this on other sites as well. I am really surprised by this design! Why don't they use a nut on the back of a machine screen?

Justin