Should a wet or dry ft-lb value be used when torque-wrenching a barrel into an action?

[M-61]

True enough. I guess it depends on what is important in your life.
Grass? Not so much.
Coordinates for air support, well you better make it perfect.
But to the point there is a correct number for torque , well generally accepted is really unacceptable.
If one takes the trouble to find out, thread size, pitch, diameter etc. then the lube, well you will then get the correct number.
But you’re correct. It only matters what you think is good enough.
You may have noticed I said "worked for". I have not cut lawns for a living.

 

[WildBill3/75]

True enough. I guess it depends on what is important in your life.
Grass? Not so much.
Coordinates for air support, well you better make it perfect.
But to the point there is a correct number for torque , well generally accepted is really unacceptable.
If one takes the trouble to find out, thread size, pitch, diameter etc. then the lube, well you will then get the correct number.
But you’re correct. It only matters what you think is good enough.
You may have noticed I said "worked for". I have not cut lawns for a living.

I think you are way over thinking it.
With a high quality action and a high quality shouldered barrel, there isn't going to be much "crush" difference between 30ft/lb and 100ft/lb.

The surfaces between the shoulder of the barrel and the face of the receiver should be true and the threads shouldn't be sloppy loose. We are in the world of high end rifles.

Some action manufacturers with a locking screw design that take prefits even instruct the user to only hand tighten the shouldered barrel before engaging the clamping screw or screws.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'm glad you view it that way, but I don't believe it.

"Good Enough" is something less than perfect, sufficient.

View attachment 1359571

You mow your grass into a perfect checkboard pattern, every week? You measure all of the resulting squares or diamonds to make sure they're all equal? Never skip the weeding/trimming? Clean your car to perfection every time?

Everyone decides that something is good enough, no one has time to make everything perfect.

Just look at the other posts. Its like this every time

 

[DR_2297]

Lol I use ARP moly lube. Well proven dry vs wet torque differences. 50 ft-lb and gtg for non switch barrel applications.

 

[BoydAllen]

If you want to read an excellent and rather exhaustive discussion of the action barrel connection, complete with a lot of test results, read what Harold Vaughn has to say in his excellent and unique book "Rifle Accuracy Facts". Copies are quite pricey but if you look around you can find free downloads from several sources. Barrels are not head bolts, or rod bolts or lug nuts, and I always want to ask the various make it complicated posters whether they shoot as good or better than those who tighten by feel who own records in Benchrest.

 

[ljmontano]

I would never assemble a barrel and action together dry,especially stainless.i always make sure both components are meticulously clean,a little moly grease and torque to 70ft/lb.

I seen a pic here on this forum of a SS barrel shoulder that had galling. I use Lucas red n tacky grease which has anti seize, I put some the threads then hand tighten the action, then loosen action and then take a q tip remove the excess from the shoulder and the action face which leaves a lite coat between the two and then torque to 50 ft-lb.