action screws torque value

[John Traveler1]

Ahhh... bolt action rifle?  

The torque value depends on the stock material, the diameter of the action screws, and yes, the bedding material too!

IIRC, for the Remington 700 M24 rifles, the correct value was something like 60 lb-in.

For typical 1/4-28 action screws, something on the order of 50-80 pound-inch is normal.  The exact value is not nearly as important the uniformity of the torque value.

HTH
John

[gunnut69]

I have never used a torque wrench on action screws.  That doesn't mean one shouldn't.  If the bedding is truly flat(dead) the torque of the action screws should have little to do with the rifle's grouping.  That said of course over tightening the screws can compress a normal wood stock, causing the bedding to 'go sour'.  It's one of the reasons pillar bedding is done.  The pillars are made of material that's significantly less deformed by the pressure of the actions screws.. Thus you bedding job stays put..  One would think synthetic stocks would also be relatively impervious to screw torque but that is not always the case.  All synthetic stocks are not created equal!  I usually advise the average user with a wood stocked bolt gun to start all the screws.  Then tap the butt on the ground and tighten the front screw, quite snug,  Then the rear screw just snug and if present the middle screw just a bit beyond finger tight.  This middle screw (Ruger 77/ Winchester M70) is not really and action screw and if too tight can most definately cause accuracy problems..and worse.  I contend that is the rifle is adversly affected by screw tension, the bedding is not correct..