When to check torque on rifle screws?

[rap36case]

I went shooting with a friend the other day and found that my bolt screws were relatively loose. I had originally torqued them to 65 in. lbs a few months before and had been shooting a few times in between. I know this seems a newbie mistake. I have added this to my outing checklist now.

How often do you check your action and ring screws for torque?j

Do you use blue Lok-Tite?

 

[JEFFPPC]

No lok tite on either. I only use it on base screws after cleaning the holes and the screws and after insuring none of the screws bottem out. I never torqued an action screw in my life with a torque wrench. Just the gauge between my mind and my wrist.

 

[AllenOne1]

After initial torque I would check them every time I clean the rifle which is 40-60 rounds until I was satisfied that they were staying tight then start to stretch it out a bit.

The ones that bother me are the scope base screws you can't get to them to check without removing the scope. The rest are easy.

 

[olddav]

I try to check the rear action screw each trip. I break it loose, but just barely and torque it back to its original value. On my Savage 110 I found that the rear action screw tightened up over time so I check it often.
No loctite on action screws.

 

[Rset]

I check them when groups start to open for no other explainable reason. Same time as I start looking at a possible barrel issue.

 

[rap36case]

Thanks guys. I have never used lok-tite on action screws, so I won't start. The people at McMillan had told me 65 in. lbs. I guess it would'nt hurt to check them from time to time as routine. Live and learn.

 

[Deleted outa08]

I torque my rifles after every trip to the range. 65 in lbs on the Rem. 700. I don`t use any lock tite on the action screws.I have a preset t-handle and cross check it once in a while with another wrench. I have found over the years to keep consistent torque values on your rifle will lead to consistent accuracy. Jeff

 

[billlarson]

I torque my rifles after every trip to the range. 65 in lbs on the Rem. 700. I don`t use any lock tite on the action screws.I have a preset t-handle and cross check it once in a while with another wrench. I have found over the years to keep consistent torque values on your rifle will lead to consistent accuracy. Jeff

Do they change...??? With temp...???
Bill

 

[jepp2]

The people at McMillan had told me 65 in. lbs.

So I assume it is a synthetic stock, not wood, correct? Pillars?

 

[skeeljc]

If your action is properly bedded (read Devcon Plastic Steel) and it has pillars the screws should stay tight. If your action is sitting on flat surfaces (think v-block) on an aluminum chassis I would check the torque every time you shoot it. If you examine a V-type bedding block you will see two lines of contact where the round action contacts the aluminum surfaces. The contact lines are wear on the aluminum caused by movement of the action. The wear will reduce the preload on the action screws which reduces the screw torque. If your stock has an aluminum bedding block with a round contour chances are almost 99% it will not match the contour of the action.

 

[Texas10]

Keep a torque wrench in your shooting kit and whenever you think the gun isn't grouping as well as you feel it should, check the torque. This is especially true if you're shooting a Savage, as the rear action screw torque does affect accuracy, and torque tuning a Savage is a real thing.

Several times a year while at the range I'll encounter a fellow shooter who is having issues with accuracy, which seems to have fallen off greatly. More than a few times I've checked their action screws (or scope mount screws) and found them loose, sometimes several turns loose.

I also use a sharpie to mark the screw head so I can tell immediately if it's backed off over time.

 

[wkdickinson]

Never, my comp rifles are pillar bedded with Devcon and never change. I think if your action screws are loosing torque, you have a serious bedding issue.

 

[DirtySteve]

Ok, I just a few days ago took my rifle out of the stock. When I put it back I did not use a torque wrench when previously I had.. It went from putting all five shot touch to minute of target... I stopped shooting and when I got home I loosed them and torqued them correctly.. Waiting to retest but I am certain it made a big difference..

 

[carlsbad]

your screws aren't stretching. the stock is relaxing or high points are moving. check your bedding. a properly torqued screw won't loosen.

 

[JSH]

Some of the responses I see here makes me want to yank the oil pan off of my pickup and check the torque on my rods and main caps.

If you are putting true values on said fastner and it’s coming loose, you have issues that need to be addressed. NOT just tightening down again.

 

[Deleted outa08]

Do they change...??? With temp...???
Bill

Billl, I have never seen a change do to temp. But have had a slight change to values after a road trip and shooting. Just good to verify,or I`m just anal. Jeff

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I torque: Front Chimp tight.
Rear Gorilla tight.

 

[dolek]

I have read REM 700 with HS stocks are torqued at 45 coming from the factory,so that's what I set them at . Wood stocks with no pillars I do about 30-35 depending on the wood and how it feels during tightening . I check them after the first range visit and never after .

65 seems very high, but they would know if they are the maker I guess.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Yes, 65 in. lbs. For Remington's, that's what is recommended.

 

[2moreclicks]

your screws aren't stretching. the stock is relaxing or high points are moving. check your bedding. a properly torqued screw won't loosen.

This is correct but the screws do stretch when torqued which create tension.
If threads are lubed and properly torqued creates proper stretch/tension and should not come loose