Barrel torque

[geordiesniper]

Hi All, I am getting a new barrel for my 284 Shehane and also going to get a 6BR barrel, with the intention of using it as a switch barrel rifle.
Can anyone out there advise what torque in ft/lb I should use for both calibres!
I was told that 100 ft/lb is advisable, but speaking with another gunsmith, he said tighten it up by hand, and then just 'nip' the barrel with the wrench/bar.
Any info appreciated.]

 

[Preacher]

All I usually do when switching barrels is pull it up tight and wack the end of the bar hard with my hand. Never had one come loose...

 

[greenron15]

Call who ever makes the stock and ask them

 

[bugman]

IMO, 100 ft/lb is not necessary. With rear entry action wrenches, I have actually attached a torque wrench and measured the force. Speaking only of BAT actions and calibers from 6PPC to 6.5x47, 50 ft/lbs has always been sufficient. This has been with glue-ins and screw-ins. Lately, I just snug them up then "lean on it" till it feels @ 50 ft/lbs....probably the same effect as wacking the end of the bar, as Preacher noted.

Jack

 

[rmist]

I have always used 20 ft lbs of tq with a rear entry wrench...also I always put some antiseize on the threads. This was on Panda's and Bat's.

 

[geordiesniper]

Thanks guys for the input. The action is a BAT M action in a Tooley MBR stock.
So it is a rear entry action wrench, so will put anti seize grease on and hand tighten and give it a bit of a whack to nip it up.

 

[Dvldawg]

I knew a shooter how had a couple switch barrel rifles and all he ever done was hand tight, and I would agree with the other member, it's not going to come loose. As for the standard rifle I normally torque at 30 ft/lb.

 

[firearmdoc1]

I would certainly not try to put 100 ft lbs on it with a rear entry wrench. I would say around 35 ft lbs should be fine.

 

[fdshuster]

Your gunsmith & everyone else here gave you very good advice. My Panda uses a rear T handle wrench so that it's not possible to use a torque wrench and with it I just give the handle a little smack. Never had one come lose.

I do use a torque wrench with my rear entry Bat's and have been using 50 ft. lbs. May even try 35 the next time.

 

[geordiesniper]

Your gunsmith & everyone else here gave you very good advice. My Panda uses a rear T handle wrench so that it's not possible to use a torque wrench and with it I just give the handle a little smack. Never had one come lose.

I do use a torque wrench with my rear entry Bat's and have been using 50 ft. lbs. May even try 35 the next time.

It was my gunsmith who told me he torques to 100 ft/lb. But one or two other guys at my local club suggested it maybe too much, so I thought this is the best forum to ask the question, so many thanks for your inputs and I will ask him to reduce the torque when he fits the new barrel.
Good shooting to all.

 

[fdshuster]

geordiesniper: It may be an issue with some gunsmith's to set a barrel to any torque setting less than 125+ ft. lbs. because of the liability.

I had a gunsmith doing some of my barrel installations & he was clearly not comfortable in setting them up as switch-barrels. I asked him to set the barrel at 65 ft. lbs., in writing, gave him a small quantity of anti-sieze & asked him to lightly coat the threads. Picked up the rifle, fired it approx. 350 rds., tried to remove the barrel & could not. Took it back to him, he had to use his extra heavy duty barrel vice & clamp over receiver wrench. Got the barrel off & the threads were dry. He no longer does switch-barrel work for me, where another g'smith has no problem setting them to whatever I want.

And concerning the liability issues: he does not hesitate to do trigger work & does an excellent job of it, but the other g'smith who will do switch-barrels, will not touch a trigger because of the liablity possibilities. Go figure.

 

[geordiesniper]

geordiesniper: It may be an issue with some gunsmith's to set a barrel to any torque setting less than 125+ ft. lbs. because of the liability.

I had a gunsmith doing some of my barrel installations & he was clearly not comfortable in setting them up as switch-barrels. I asked him to set the barrel at 65 ft. lbs., in writing, gave him a small quantity of anti-sieze & asked him to lightly coat the threads. Picked up the rifle, fired it approx. 350 rds., tried to remove the barrel & could not. Took it back to him, he had to use his extra heavy duty barrel vice & clamp over receiver wrench. Got the barrel off & the threads were dry. He no longer does switch-barrel work for me, where another g'smith has no problem setting them to whatever I want.

And concerning the liability issues: he does not hesitate to do trigger work & does an excellent job of it, but the other g'smith who will do switch-barrels, will not touch a trigger because of the liablity possibilities. Go figure.

Ah! Did not think of that one. You could be on the right track as to why he torques his barrels so high.
Thanks

 

[jnyfeler]

I run my T2K 6BR bbl. at 50 ft. lbs. torque, and it's extremely accurate. Came with a 6.5x47 factory bbl. that was torqued so tight I had to stand on the wrench to remove it. Totally unecessary.

Jeff

 

[Steve Blair]

I've torqued mine at 40 lb. ft. for years and no problems. As said, use anti-seize and any of the above suggestions will probably work fine.

 

[geordiesniper]

Hi guys. Many thanks to all that have replied to my query, you have been very helpful. I will ring my gunsmith and let him know to set the new Shehane barrel at 40-50ft/lbs to I can remove it easily to replace it with a 6BR barrel.
Good shooting to all.
Les

 

[claudesapp]

Hey all, little late to this thread, but wanted to share, and ask a question too. I have four Shehane rifles on Nesika and BAT actions set up to switch among Krieger barrels (five 284 Shehanes in there), and when I asked Bill Shehane about torque, he said 60 ft-lbs. He actually said snug it up good, does not need much, but when my numbers oriented mind pressed him, he said 60 is plenty. He really emphasized torque consistency, not just on the barrels, but on action screws, etc.

Now I ask, if you don't hit the same torque every time when you switch barrels, don't you affect the headspace? Probably not enough to matter, but I am just wondering.

 

[Lapua40X]

I read something a while back, I believe it was Diablo Rifle Works, that 100 ft lbs. was used in rebarreling a rifle they had been working on. Can't be certain. Give 'em a call (or send 'em an email) and see what they might have to day.
http://diablorifleworks.com/

 

[geordiesniper]

I am going to torque the barrels at 50ft/lb. Here is another question. I have a BAT action on a Tooley MBR stock. What do you torque your action screws to?

 

[fdshuster]

claudesapp: I've torqued my barrels from as little as 35 ft. lb. to as much as 70 and have never measured any difference in the as fired headspace length of the brass.

 

[claudesapp]

Thanks fdshuster, interesting to know. I have heard of gunsmiths taking into account "crush" when barreling.

As for action screws, I have bedded Shehane stocks with pillars, and Mr. Shehane said torque action screws 30-60 in/lbs, and again consistency is more important than the value.