Author Topic: Forearm Screw Torque??  (Read 1096 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« on: July 11, 2004, 09:09:04 AM »
I learned at RFC how important the forestock screw torque can be in accuracy on my 17hmrs, it makes a difference between 1/2moa and 1.5moa. With that in mind I have been tightening the screws on them and my Ultra Varmint with a torque screwdriver so it's always the same. Anyone else doing this or have thoughts on it?  thx
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline JPH45

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1145
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2004, 12:17:09 PM »
How many inch pounds are you torquing to? My method is not quite as sofisticated, I run the screw in till it hits wood and then tighten just a scooch past that. If I can't detect any motion of the forearm it is too tight, but it shouldn't be a sloppy either.
Boycott Natchez Shooters Supplies, Inc

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2004, 12:33:31 PM »
I'm using 60 inch/lbs right now and it seems to be about the same as what you are doing, I just use the torque screwdriver so it is always the same. I used to mark the screw head and a spot of the stock so it was consistent before I got the $$screwdriver. My rimfires like 30 inch/lbs, for comparison. The 60 "/# seems to be good since on my first day out it  shot real good. Just curious if anyone else has a routine for tightening the screw.   thx,  Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Paul5388

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2004, 12:41:23 PM »
Don't have a torque screwdriver, but I did try using an inch pound torque wrench.  I never couod get the screw to torque before it started pulling through the forearm (synthetic or wood).  

My solution was to use a slotted screw, instead of a Philips, that I tighten pretty snuggly and then backing up to a pre-determined position for the slot to face.

I shot a .44" group, at 100 yards, yesterday with a .22 Hornet barrel in a H&R shotgun receiver.


The other 7 shots on the paper were 35 gr V-Max with 13.5 gr Lil"gun.  The load made a tremendous difference in this case.

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2004, 01:15:59 PM »
Paul, nice shootin! I thought the use of a shotgun receiver with a rifle barrel was a no-no.....enlighten me? The reason I ask is I have a pardner 20 ga shotgun and wouldn't mind being able to shoot my .223 and my .243 without swapping barrels.   ???? The torque screwdrivers are spendy, ~$125 or more, but I got one on Ebay for $20.
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline handirifle

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3570
    • http://www.handirifle.com
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2004, 02:36:11 PM »
quicktodo
NEF will not fit a rifle barrel to the shotgun receivers, but with reasonable cartridges like the 22 Hornet, maybe the 223, the .357 and maybe the 44mag you could get away with it.

I doubt any of these rounds exert any more stress on the receiver than a 12ga shotgun.
God, Family, and guns, in that order!

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2004, 03:11:20 PM »
That's kinda what I thought, but I figured I should check with the experts here! Any criteria for making sure the fit is safe? I closed the action with a .002" feeler gauge between the barrel and receiver of the ultra varmint to see what kind of clearance I have there, it closed fine and the feeler gauge was tight, any way to check without consulting a smithy?
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Paul5388

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2004, 03:12:34 PM »
There's no maybe about the .223 or .357 on a shotgun receiver.  I swap mine around as I see fit and I only have one rifle receiver.  I don't know that I would put any of the higher intensity chamberings on the shotgun receiver, but the traditional chamberings, like .30-30, .357, .44 Mag and .22 Hornet have been used for too long on Toppers and etc. to be rejected.  I have the shotgun receiver with the better trigger on the .357, but even with a "gorilla" trigger pull, the Hornet shoots pretty good.  I'm not sure if it's a SL or SY barrel, but it's only 20" long and a much smaller profile than the standard .223 I have.

Handi is right about NEF not installing rifle barrels on a Pardner receiver, but they will put a .410/.45 Colt barrel on it.

I checked all of mine with a .001" feeler gauge.  Each one will lock up on that feeler gauge, but you can't pull the gauge out without opening the action.  I had trouble with the .357 barrel not locking up at first, but a little smoothing on the locking shelf fixed that.  The metal is pretty soft, so be careful if you start whittling on it.

Offline bluebayou

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1216
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2004, 09:14:10 PM »
So how much can you spend on a torque screwdriver nowadays?  Pawnshop hunting?  Cheapes that I have seen was 100 odd bucks.   Would like one to torque the Remington 700 stock correctly too.

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2004, 05:06:26 AM »
They have been on ebay regularly, but be careful, some of em don't work, are worn out or something or don't have the collets. I bought a batch of 6 of em and luckily one of em was good. IIRC, I paid $20-25 for mine. Do a search for Utica screwdriver, they come in different torque ranges, 0-30, 20-100. I use the 20-100, TS-100. I just looked and there is a nice looking one for $60 buy-it-now.  hth,   Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline ben.

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (10)
  • Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2005, 08:12:26 AM »
Quote from: bluebayou
So how much can you spend on a torque screwdriver nowadays?  Pawnshop hunting?  Cheapes that I have seen was 100 odd bucks.   Would like one to torque the Remington 700 stock correctly too.


I use inch pound torque wrench on my rem 700's. 45 inch front and 25 inch back screws.

Offline jason burns

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 93
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2005, 10:18:27 AM »
Quote from: Paul5388
There's no maybe about the .223 or .357 on a shotgun receiver.  I swap mine around as I see fit and I only have one rifle receiver.  I don't know that I would put any of the higher intensity chamberings on the shotgun receiver, but the traditional chamberings, like .30-30, .357, .44 Mag and .22 Hornet have been used for too long on Toppers and etc. to be rejected.


WOW!  That is great news!  I have thought about trying my .357 barrel on my Huntsman frame since it is a perfect fit.  Logic said that if it could handle 100 grains of 777 with a 300grain bullet then it could handle the puny .357 but I was chicken to try it.  I know they would not recommend it but I am gonna give it a shot . . . literally!

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2005, 10:31:33 AM »
Jason, don't let the "puny" .357 mag cartridge fool you, the pressures generated in smokeless loads are substantialy higher than any black powder substitute load.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/muzzleloading/granular/t7cartridge.php
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline jason burns

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 93
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #13 on: March 16, 2005, 11:20:29 AM »
Quote from: quickdtoo
Jason, don't let the "puny" .357 mag cartridge fool you

I know that "puny" was a bad word choice . . . I am glad to hear that it will handle it though!

Offline Coastwatcher

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 151
Forearm Screw Torque??
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2005, 04:56:11 AM »
There is a chart of suggested maximum torque setting for various screw and bolt sizes at  

http://www.cditorque.com/torque_specs.html
My prayers are always answered,  sometimes the answer is no...........