Panda Questions?

[HTSmith]

After 20 years of wanting one, I finally got a rifle with a Panda action. I was able to unpack it yesterday but won't be able to assemble it until Monday (It's killing me). I'm going to call Kelbly to order some rings on Monday, but was hoping to pose a few questions to this audience:
1. Will Sinclair Rem 700 Firing Pin Removal and Main Spring Compressor tools work on the Panda bolt?
2. Will a Rem 700 Davidson action wrench (pretty much a flat bar with a hex nut welded on) work on the Panda?
3. This is the first time seeing three action screws. Do all three need to be torqued?

Thanks all.

 

[STS]

Yes, yes, no.

 

[sdean]

I wonder why they go through the trouble to use 3 screws?

 

[Roeder]

Don't use a rear entry wrench that has long flats the length of the action. There are some good ones out there that only engage the front section of the action bolt raceway. The long ones can twist and damage the action.

 

[Kings X]

Yes
No - lugs are smaller.
Yes - that’s why there are three. This a a benchrest action - treat it like one.
FYI - full length contact of the correct size is good on the rails.

 

[1shot]

I torque my action screws to 65 in. lbs.

Lloyd

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Firing pin tool is the same. The center screw is just there as a redundant. I eliminate them when I do drop port conversions and they shoot every bit as well. I use a 700 rear entry wrench on them. The idea behind the full flat wrench is that if its very tight you can twist the wrench and at the same time twist the race ways. I think thats more of an idea than reality. I have intentionally tried to bend actions to straighten warped race ways, its not an easy task. I dont use flat wrenches like the davidson but, I dont think you will have an issue unless you put a breaker bar and pipe on it.

 

[HTSmith]

Firing pin tool is the same. The center screw is just there as a redundant. I eliminate them when I do drop port conversions and they shoot every bit as well. I use a 700 rear entry wrench on them. The idea behind the full flat wrench is that if its very tight you can twist the wrench and at the same time twist the race ways. I think thats more of an idea than reality. I have intentionally tried to bend actions to straighten warped race ways, its not an easy task. I dont use flat wrenches like the davidson but, I dont think you will have an issue unless you put a breaker bar and pipe on it.

Thanks much sir

Follow up—I’ve been torquing my Remington barrels to 80 ft lb with no issues. Is that OK for a Panda?

 

[JRS]

Hand tight, then give it a good rap.

 

[Roeder]

Firing pin tool is the same. The center screw is just there as a redundant. I eliminate them when I do drop port conversions and they shoot every bit as well. I use a 700 rear entry wrench on them. The idea behind the full flat wrench is that if its very tight you can twist the wrench and at the same time twist the race ways. I think thats more of an idea than reality. I have intentionally tried to bend actions to straighten warped race ways, its not an easy task. I dont use flat wrenches like the davidson but, I dont think you will have an issue unless you put a breaker bar and pipe on it.

Admittedly, the likelihood of damaging a benchrest action with a Davidson style rear entry wrench is pretty remote. I just like the newer style that contacts mostly forward of the port and with the Panda being aluminum with a steel insert in the front it ensures that the torque is applied to the insert. I also prefer a dedicated Panda-Nesika-SPF wrench that does not have the small relief cutaway that the Remington wrenches sometimes have. I mean the notch on the bottom side of the flats that is intended to prevent bending the anti-bind rail.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If you get remotely close to tweaking a custom action whoever put the barrel on there messed up

 

[Nick_Mansfield]

Firing pin tool is the same. The center screw is just there as a redundant. I eliminate them when I do drop port conversions and they shoot every bit as well. I use a 700 rear entry wrench on them. The idea behind the full flat wrench is that if its very tight you can twist the wrench and at the same time twist the race ways. I think thats more of an idea than reality. I have intentionally tried to bend actions to straighten warped race ways, its not an easy task. I dont use flat wrenches like the davidson but, I dont think you will have an issue unless you put a breaker bar and pipe on it.

Not to hijack the thread but Alex do you still do drop port conversions on pandas? Thanks Nick

 

[Alex Wheeler]

If I order the action new. I dont do it to actions that already have ejectors, extractors, or flutes in them.

 

[222 rem]

Hand tight, then give it a good rap.

+1