In today’s review, Richard Johnson takes a look at the X3 Driver gunsmithing set from Real Avid. This kit offers the gunsmith or home hobbyist 57 different pieces: bits along with a ratchet and T-handle screwdriver. But is this a quality set or no better than the cheap junk sold by some online discounters? Spoiler: this set beat expectations. The set was provided to the author by the company for review.
There are a lot of tool options on the market for the gun enthusiast. Local outdoor shops offer them, as do the big box retailers. Online you can find more tools that you can count in a lifetime. Unfortunately, many of them are low quality and simply not suited for gunsmithing.
I’m guessing many readers were taught the value of quality tools by their father, an uncle or maybe a grandfather. Others learned by experience that a cheap tool is rarely a bargain. A few folks — me included — were told but had to learn the lesson the hard way anyway.
Dad spent years working on planes in the Navy and even more years as a civilian working on every kind of engine imaginable. To say he was an internal combustion engine savant would not be an overstatement. While I’ve forgotten his many lessons on tuning a carburetor, his admonitions about cheap tools stuck with me. His tools lesson boiled down to “buy once, cry once.”
While there are times that purchasing a cheap tool may make sense, I’ve found in the majority of cases that buying the quality tool is almost always the better value.
X3 Driver 57-Piece Gunsmithing Bit Set
Real Avid has been around since 2008, when they started operations out of Plymouth, Minnesota. They made a name for themselves by creating the gun multi-tool category back in 2013 with their original Gun Tool. Since then, they’ve expanded into a full range of cleaning supplies, maintenance tools and gunsmithing equipment.
The company targets what they call the “Gun DIY” market — folks like you and me who want to maintain and customize our own firearms without having to take them to a professional for every little thing.
What’s in the Box
Real Avid packages the X3 Driver set in a compact, stackable storage case. Everything has a dedicated spot, which I appreciate. Nothing worse than a tool kit where bits rattle around loose. The case itself feels sturdy — not flimsy plastic.
The heart of the kit is the X3 Driver itself. This is a 3-in-1 tool that functions as a ratcheting driver, a T-handle, and a traditional screwdriver depending on how you configure it. The 72-tooth ratchet mechanism gives you fine control: about 5 degrees of arc per click. That matters when you’re working in tight spaces around a receiver or trying to seat a scope ring screw without over-torquing it.
The bit selection feels comprehensive. You get dozens of bits covering Torx (T4 through T30), Phillips, metric hex (1.5mm through 8mm), standard hex (1/16″ through 1/4″), flat/slotted bits in various widths, and square drive bits. That covers pretty much everything you’ll encounter on modern firearms and optics. The kit also includes a 1/4″ hex-to-square adapter so you can use sockets if needed.
Build Quality and Materials
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Or I guess in this case, where the bit meets the screw head.
The X3 Driver handle has a diamond-knurled grip that’s more than cosmetic texturing; it gives you solid purchase even with oily hands or when wearing gloves. The ratchet mechanism is impressively smooth. No grinding or roughness that you get from a cheaper socket set. Direction selection is positive with clear detents. It’s easy to use.
The bits themselves are precision machined. I tested the fit of several bits against the screws on my firearms, and the fit is full and snug. That’s critical. A loose-fitting bit can cam out under torque and damage the screw head. The flat bits in particular show proper hollow-ground profiles rather than tapered wedge shapes.
This matters for slotted screws on older firearms where a damaged screw can mean an expensive trip to a gunsmith. I scratched the hell out of a classic blued revolver when I was younger and was using a hardware store screwdriver. The flat head slipped right out and I put an unsightly scratch down the sideplate. It was more than 20 years ago, and I still regret that error.
Using the Set
There are two primary ways to use the kit: as a screwdriver, standard or T-handle, and as a ratchet.
Ratcheting Driver Mode
This is the configuration I use most often. Snap a bit into the ratchet head, select your direction, and go. The 72-tooth mechanism means you can work in tight spaces where you only have a few degrees of handle travel.
I’ve recently been testing a variety of red dot sights with my Springfield Armory pistols, and I’ve used this kit to mount each on the pistols’ slides. I had no problems with the driver or any clearance issues around the sights.
Live The Armory Life. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun giveaways!
There’s also a thumbwheel on the back of the ratchet head for fine adjustments without moving the handle. It’s nice for when you want to be extra careful about torque.
T-Handle Mode
Pop the driver extension into the center of the ratchet handle and you’ve got a T-handle driver. This gives you more leverage for stubborn screws and better perpendicular control. I use this configuration for starting screws and for applications where I need to feel the torque more directly.
The T-handle also helps maintain alignment on screws with shallow slots. I find you’re less likely to drift off-center when you have that wide stance on the tool.
Screwdriver Mode
There’s a hex socket in the bottom of the rachet handle that accepts bits directly. This turns the X3 into a conventional screwdriver. Likewise, you can use the driver extension in the same way.
While this works flawlessly, it is also the format I liked the least. I prefer a larger grip on a standard screwdriver, and the thinness of these tools wasn’t ideal for me. Don’t get me wrong — it works perfectly. But, it’s just not my preference. I don’t use this mode as often, but I like that it’s there when I need it.
Final Thoughts: Price and Value
Real Avid assigns a suggested retail value of $59.99 to the set I tested. I do not think you will get the same value from a less expensive kit.
As I stated previously, the ratchet and bits are hefty and feel very solid. The parts fit together precisely without slop. And one of the biggest things for me? The bits fit screw heads precisely, helping to prevent round outs.
At this price point you’re not competing with Snap-On or professional armorer-grade tools. You’re competing with the Wheeler 43-piece set ($40-50), various Amazon special driver kits ($20-40), and entry-level offerings from other brands. Against that competition, the Real Avid X3 Driver 57-Piece set holds up well. The 3-in-1 driver is more versatile than a standard handle. The bit quality seems as good as Wheeler. The storage case is better organized than most.
Is it the last screwdriver set you’ll ever buy? Probably not if you get serious about gunsmithing. You’ll eventually want specialized bits for specific applications, a torque driver, maybe some single-piece drivers for delicate work. But as a general-purpose kit for the armed citizen who maintains their own firearms? This covers the bases.
I like the X3 Driver kit and find it has a great deal of value for me. If you are in the market for a similar tool set, I recommend checking this one out.
Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in!
