Action/Bedding screws, How tight should tehy be?

[TX7Mag]

Today at the range, my shots were all over the place and I check all of the screws,for the scope and Action.  Scope was tight but the action/bedding screws were lose.  How tight do they need to be?

TX7Mag

[gwindrider1]

Someone will probably chime in with some torque ratings for those action screw, but I can't remember the recommendations myself, and I don't have a torque wrench rated in inch pounds.

My standard is to snug them both equally, then tighten the front screw tight, but not to a gorilla grip level.  Then I return to the rear screw, and snug it firmly, but not as tight as the front.  I realize that this is an esoteric answer to your question, but it is really not rocket science.  Snug them up firmly with a properly fitted screwdriver, and you should be fine.

[gunnut69]

That is an excellant answer and observation.

[trotterlg]

If it is a pillar bedded action it won't matter much how tight it is, the action bottoms out on the pillars and that is that.  If it is not pillar bedded you need to find a torque that works and stick to it, any more or less will flex the action more or less and lead to inconsistant POI.  Larry

[bluebayou]

Being nerdy, I used 28 inch pounds on my bedded stocks.  Why 28?  That is what my Remington liked the best and I just stuck with it on the other 2 rifles for no real reason. 

I think that I read 60 inch pounds somewhere.  I used 60 on my very first Remington ADL synthetic and crushed the crap out of it and the plastic trigger guard.  Lesson learned. 

Vince Lombardi said, "consistency is the key to winning".  I would think that the biggest issue is whether you are consistent and that is where the torque wrench comes to play.  Check out the Wheeler Engineering FAT wrench for $45 if you are really into tools.

[TNyoteboy]

I went to a Remington Field Armorers School a couple of years ago and was taught the following: Stand your stock on it's butt and insert the action. This assures the recoil lug mates with the recess in the stock. Torque the front screw to 15 in/lbs then the rear to 15. Torque the front to 30 in/lbs, then the rear to 30. Finish with the front at 45 in/lbs and repeat with the rear at 45. That is what Remington taught me, but experiment with it and find out what your rifle likes.

[TX7Mag]

I grabbed the screwdriver and gave the bedding screws a good tightening as well as the windage adjustment screws on the base for the scope then headed out to the range last Friday.  In less than 15 rounds I was shooting MOA and Sub MOA groups. 

thank God their was nothing really wrong with the gun or scope. 

Thank you for all of your suggestions.
TX7Mag

[TNyoteboy]

Usually it's the loose screw behind the rifle that screws things up. Glad things worked out.