Bending fore end screws

[Spokerider]

What does it take to do this on a contender?
 
Is it JUST heavy recoil? The type / design of the fore stock? or from trying to hold onto the fore stock too tightly when shooting?
 
 

[SHOOTALL]

maybe how you are resting the forearm on something while shooting ?

[Ladobe]

Pretty hard to offer valid answers without more information - things like what kind of forend, how its mounted, how you are supporting it, what cartridge is bendign them, pictures, etc.
 
I shot the meanest of the mean on Contenders for decades and never bent a screw.  Suggests the forend is not mounted right (screws are not tight, may be too long, screws are not a high enough grade, etc).

[Spokerider]

Well, I haven't bent any yet............am hoping not to.
 
I have read a few posts of guys just throwing it in there, when discussing recoil of the bigger calibers.

[HHI-7420]

I made a heavy foreend for my 358jdj out of some very dense redwood(don't know the country of origin). Promptly bent the forearm screws. Took a butterfly bit and bored holes in the barrel channel. No more bent screws. When you shoot, the forearm wants to go forward(just like your scope). This force bends the screws. Especially if somewhat loose.  Pat

[Spokerider]

Thanks for the reply.
 By drilling holes in the forestock, you decreased the weight? and thus ended the problem of bending the screws?
If so, the less weight makes sense.

[NDOLDMAN]

I have not had any problems with bent fore end screws, but have had a problem with fore ends. Purchased first contender in 1983.  41 mag 14 in bull barrel.  3rd barrel was a 22 hornet 14 inch barrel in 2008.  Fore ends did not match.  I used the wood fore end from 1983 to start.  After stripping 3 screws  I bought a new composit fore end. It fit. Significant difference in the barrel mounting stud dimensions. Measure and make sure your  problem is not "stripped" screws.

[Artful]

Only barrel I had that problem with is the 45-70 barrel - And yes I hang onto the forearm with a death grip.

[Spokerider]

Only barrel I had that problem with is the 45-70 barrel - And yes I hang onto the forearm with a death grip.

 
 
 
Thanks for that  . That's the caliber I'm shooting.

[Artful]

Contender forend screws are 10-32. 
You can get them with a hex head and never have to worry about stripping or damaging the screw head again.
Don't over tighten them - you'll pull the dovetail up and warp it then it falls out of the barrel.
Their cheap around $0.15 each, get a few extra and a few in different lengths. 
3/8, and 5/8 is what is stock in the 14" forend I believe. 
You DON"T have to pay $5+ for replacement screws.
I keep a kit for my range tool box that has from 3/8 to 3/4" lengths for different configurations.

[MePlat]

A short strip of supervisor tape between fore end and barrel will stop fore end movement under recoil.  Hard to pull the fore end off when changing it but it works.