Encore Rifle Forend coming loose.

[Rol Page]

My Encore Rifle with the composite forend is giving me trouble in that the forend loosens up after shooting a few rounds.  I am heavy handed when it comes to tightening bolts, I lack the mechanic's touch to get them just right, but not too tight..  I believe the front sling swivel stud in the forend is contributing to the problem with extra strain on the forend, which is attached to the barrel with two small screws.  To eliminate this strain on the forend today I put a barrel band in place just in front of the forend and carefully retightened the forend screws.
 
Does anyone have experience with forend screws coming loose?  Is medium strength "Locktite" a reasonable option?  Does anyone have experience with barrel bands significantly affecting point of impact and overall accuracy?  I am headed to the range in the morning to check my rifle before going back to the woods.  My shots will most likely be less than 100yds.
 
Thank you in advance.  Rol

[ptpalpha]

While I'm sure there are those here more knowledgable than me on this subject, I'll weigh in.
I would have no problem using a barrel band swivel assuming I removed the sling when I got to the blind.  I can't help but think that you would effect the harmonics of the barrel depending on how much stress you were putting on the sling while shooting.  That being said, would it effect your point of impact at ranges less than 100 yards?  Doubtfull, but only range testing will tell for sure.
As for the bolts coming loose, I'd check to see if they are bottoming out on the barrel.  If so, remove a couple threads with sandpaper or file, then try them again.  You can tell by shining a flashlight in the threaded impressions and see if there are little silver circles scraped on the barrel.  If they're not bottoming out, then I don't think Loc-tite is a bad idea at all.  Personally, I torque mine to 18 inch pounds and have not had a problem with them coming loose. 
Good luck!
 

[jy951]

I always use blue lock-tite on my forends and snug them up fairly good.  Sorry, can't give a torque spec.

[Grumulkin]

I have had forends get a bit loose but not after just a few rounds.  I would suspect you need to tighten the screws just a bit more.  If you use Lock Tite, which I don't do, only use the low strength stuff.

[VT30-30]

The only problem I ever had with a loose forearm was with my 45-70 barrel. I loaded up a near max load with a
Speer 400 gr. bullet. I loaded 3 rounds and only shot 2 of the rounds. My forearm was loose on the 2nd shot. So
now I load more reasonable 400 gr. loads and use a dab of blue loctite on just the 45-70 barrel. On all my other
barrels never had a problem with any of the forearms being loose.

[Rol Page]

Thank you for the responses fellows.  I went to the range this morning and the Point of impact @ 100yds. was not impacted significantly by the barrel band that I had added yesterday.  I snugged up the forend screws a little more when I re-tightened them, also put a piece of black electrical tape over the screw holes just in case they should fall out.. expect that I would notice before they get that loose, just a safety precaution.  I did remove the sling while hunting this afternoon.  Could have left it on as I did not see a deer.
 
What tool is best for torquing the screws to a uniform inch pounds, a torque screwdriver or a torque wrench and how do I determine the correct torque on a given screw or bolt?  Have been looking @ Brownell's website and I believe they are a trusted vendor for good merchandise, but a little more than I want to spend right now.. Maybe I'll add an item to my Christmas wish list.
 
Thanks again for your insights, Happy Thanksgiving and Good Hunting.   Rol

[ptpalpha]

Since you're talking inch-pounds a torque screwdriver works fine.  I believe Wheeler Engineering makes a set that isn't too expensive.  I did swap out my forearm bolts to socket (allen) head just to give better purchase while torquing.  Pretty sure they're 10-32's, but not positive (it's been a while since I swapped them).

[SD Handgunner]

When I had my Bergera .30-06 Encore Barrel my Forend Screws came loose also. I then tried a Statton Custom Hanger Bar and that solved the problem of the screws coming loose, but it didn't shoot as good.
 
I ended up having my forend pillar bedded and then torqued my screws to 20 InLbs to keep them from coming loose.
 
On my current T/C .30-06 Encore Barrel I have not had an issue of the forend screws coming loose with the forend screws torqued to 15 InLbs. This forend is also pillar bedded.
 


 
The cross braces in the forend have been relieved so they do not touch the barrel. The posts that the screws pass through to the barrel have been bedded to the shape of the barrel.
 
Larry

[DEACONLLB]

Note screw size on Encore are 8-40 not 10-32 contenders and g2 are 10-32 and I too have changed out all my contenders to socket head they work much better than slot head. You might place a small lock washer on screw in place of locktight but make sure the flat washer is in place that factoty put in screw hole.
Deaconllb

[Rol Page]

Thank you for the additional info. fellows.. We in upstate NY are in the middle of our deer gun season so I will put your contributions into play after the season as I want to finish out the season with this Encore on most outtings.  The only shots will be one or two at deer, I have multiple tags left.
The 260 Remington with Nosler 130 Accubond @ a published 2760fps did a dandy job on an adult doe at 52 yds. through both lungs and the top of the heart.  Devastating hydroshock on entrance and a dime size exit hole on the off side indicates the bullet did not fragment.  Thanks Again,  Rol

[ptpalpha]

Great pics showing the pillar bedding.  I think I'll try my hand at that once the season is over.  Thanks!!

[SD Handgunner]

Thanks
 
I have both the front and rear screws at 15 InLbs of torque and they have not came loose. Every once in a while I recheck them just to make sure and so far they have not changed one bit.
 
I think the way my gunsmith cast the saddles to match the contour of the barrel perfectly helps a lot in keeping things as they should be.
 
Believe it or not but my gunsmith uses steel brake line tubing for the pillars. He buys a 12" piece and cuts a pillar from each end and uses the flared ends to seat the forend screws into. The screws he uses match perfecly with the flared ends on the steel brake line tubing. He tells me he likes the steel brake line tubing as generally the holes are not perfectly aligned with the barrel and buy using the thin steel brake line tubing he has the room needed to get everything straight.
 
Larry