this is going to be a tough nut, sterlings were marginal at their best.... and horrible at their worst. they were disposable guns, much like the jennings/bryco/jiminez/raven/davis guns are today.

IF you must use this gun, you may find a local machinist who can make the screw for you, but it will most likely cost more than the guns worth.... one other place might be ACE hardware, they have a crap load of machine screws in all sizes, take the slide off and take it in for a test fitting. if you get the right thread pitch and shape, you can always shorten the screw to fit.

IF you dont have to use this gun, i recommend that you piece it out and sell it, in "like new"
condition its only worth $90-100.

I have the same issue with mine!
A friend and I each bought one of these in 1982. Mine is still a good shooting gun and my son loves to shoot it, my friend parted with his long ago, it was a constant jammer no matter what we did.
I'm also looking for this part and or a parts gun.

I have one that could be used as a part gun. Contact me at rickw638@yahoo.com.

Even if you find a screw at the hardware store with a matching thread, a machinist would be able to modify that head without too much cost. In fact, if you head over to a machine shop on a Saturday morning, you might find someone working who will modify if quickly and cheaply for cash.

Some thoughts on Sterling Arms. I can not agree they were "junk" or "disposable" guns. I bought one of their small pocket .22's when they first came out...they were all steel, machined, and very costly compared to the cast guns of that time...around $130. The problems with Sterlings came from the number of different designs they tried to make without sufficient de-bugging and in a very small factory. They made a great variety of handguns, from the .22 and .25 pocket pistols to a single shot changeable barrel hunting pistol called the X-Caliber. They were well made, but they were never completely trouble free. I think they should have started with a few designs and got them all working well, but they did not.
Sterlings were made in New York State from 1972 till 1984...


Here's a pic of an X caliber...http://www.gunauction.com/buy/107640...ber-357mag-box





mark

Hello all, this may be a bit late but I figured I'll put it out there any way. I own a sterling 380 and i will say while every one is entitled to their opinion, I have no complaints about the pistol for its class. It's accurate and a good fit for large hands. Dual action with a thumb safety! Excellent ease of de-cock. Minimal recoil although responds poorly to cheap ammo (mucks up).Any replacement parts I've needed were readily available from Jack First. wwwdotjackfirstgundotcom. the service and expertise are incomparable when you want that one on one help and I've gotten a firing pin, take down screw, and thumb safety from them. (they mill them on site) perfect fit! I enjoy shooting my sterling and am looking for another. I've put about 1000 rounds through my used one with about ten stove pipes and a couple of mis fires due to pin spring lag. otherwise a great range gun for me. Hope this helps.

Yeah, I bought a .25 (S300) for $60 w/3 mags a while back on a whim. Shoots OK with good ammo. Had to have the extractor replaced after it snapped the second trip to the range (thanks Numrich). OK since then. Seems to be well finished/fitted for what it is.