Loose actions screws?

P

pyscodog

Active member
How bad will finger tight actions screw effect accuracy? Asking for a friend.
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My 6mm AI went from a .2" shooter to .750". The action screws were loose ( hand tight) and when I torqued them back tight, it went back to where it was. This rifle is bedded and has a Holland recoil lug. I think the action screws have to be tight to get the best accuracy... Just my opinion.
 
The accuracy can change just by the different torque weights.

When I was shooting more Fclass and judging groups with a calipers I could usually get the best ammo shooting a little better by tweaking the action screws.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleyman60 in pounds on the front screw
45 on the rear screw

As a beginning

Over torquing the rear can be a bad thing

In a walnut stock with no bedding or pillars???
 
Stop this!! Now I have to buy a [beeep] inch lb torque wrench! Oh wait.. my barrel is slow so I should be able to get by with a couple of zipties!!
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On a serious note now.. I thought that if stock had pillars or good stress free bedding that tight was tight. The action shouldn't have any stress no matter what the torque. Or have I misunderstood something?
 
Well my "friend" has a confession to make. Its my rifle. It was bought used a few weeks ago. The rifle, a Model 70 Winchester in 222 with a Simmons Presidential 6-20x44 scope. I did the usual with a new/used rifle, clean the barrel and make sure things are tight, but for some reason, I didn't check the action screws. After a few trips to the range and several loads, I am disappointed in the accuracy and it seemed like maybe it was a scope problem with the exception that the scope seemed to be taking adjustments correctly. The rifle would put two shots close together then throw one a couple of inchs right or left, then back to the group. Well, being very upset, I brought the rifle home, cleaned it up again then decided to take it apart and see if I can find something visibly wrong. Thats when I found the front and rear action screws finger tight. First thought was what a dumb azz. The only thing I didn't remember to check. I'm hoping the next trip to the range I see an improvement in accuracy.

P.S> I torqued the front and rear screws at 30 inch pounds being a walnut stock with no bedding or pillars. Is that tight enough?
 
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I would go tighter maybe 45 even with a light caliber.
I have read that with sako it is best to increase in 5 in increments while checking group for variation.
 
Bill, you should bed it before you fire another shot.

30 inch pounds is darn near loose. Make sure the mag box floats.

I always check and make sure that the front screw on the scope base is not digging into the barrel tenon, if it is, it will NEVER group well.
 
Originally Posted By: DocHallidaypyscodog, have you had a chance to shoot that rifle since re-torquing the screws?


Yes I have. Its still a work in progress though. I'm having issues with reloads but I'll start another post when I get it figured out.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanBill, you should bed it before you fire another shot.

I bed almost all my rifles. If done right, I have never heard of it ever hurting groups size. I've seen many improve after bedding.
 
I agree on bedding but I've been having accuracy issues and I think I've been dealing with a faulty scope. After this week-end, I can replace the scope with a known good scope and see if the accuracy issues are resolved. If so, then the rifle will be bedded for sure. I'm not wasting compound and time on a rifle that doesn't merit it because bedding won't fix the issues I've been having.
 
This reminds me of a neighbor who brought me his Savage 110 in 300 Win Mag to look over. He complained that it suddenly went gunny sack as to accuracy.

Well I did not know anything about Savage bolt guns back then but had been shooting for a good spell already.

At a glance I spotted one of the bedding screws was missing. He gasped and proclaimed that I was a GENIUS!

I tried to convince him I was hardly smart at all about his rifle and not anything approaching above average on much of anything and in fact just plain lucky that I spotted the missing screw.

He trotted down to the local gunsmith , bought a screw and got his 300 back in the black so to speak.

Three44s
 
I got the scope swapped out today and planning on a range trip tomorrow. All the action screws are torqued as well as rings and bases. Barrels clean too. All I can do now is hope I'm up to it.
 
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