Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Stock removal and zero repeatability question.

If I remove the stock on a Model 70 with aluminum pillar bedding (e.g. Bell and Carlson or McMillan), and use a torque driver to reassemble it, will it return to zero pretty well assuming I tighten the screws to 35 inch-pounds in the same order and orientation every time? What sort of error could I expect to see?

Yes. Maybe a 1/2" error, certainly not enough to cause an issue.

drover

There's only one way to find out...

I put "witness marks" on my Rem 660 when I removed it from the stock and it was dead on when I reassembled it. Most ot my rifles are off a little.

I never remove a stock and replace it without checking zero on paper. If for nothing else , a peace of mind.

I often take the barreled actions out of their stocks when traveling, in order to use a take-down case. When they go back together they're usually off slightly at 100 yards, whether or not the stock is pillar-bedded ort not--but they're all epoxy-bedded. After the first shot, however, they normally start shooting right where they were sighted-in at home.

This is what I do too. I've noticed the TSA give the "takedown" an abbreviated look cause its not as threatening.
The shorter rifle case makes it much easier to negotiate in a crowd also.
As someone already alluded to, there is only one way to find out, which I did for the first time today with a Sako Brown Bear in 375 H&H. Like Mule Deer said, there was a 1/2" difference with poi at 100 yards. Also I did this to confirm the "irons" were on at 50 yards - in case of a fall or I lose footing in a crick crossing.

I'll do this a few more times once I decide on which bullet to use on my moose hunt.

I do one thing with my rifles when I reassemble them that no one has mentioned so far. I hit them on the floor from about six inches up [butt first naturally] a couple of times. They seem to not be as far off on the first shot if I do so.

I do the same thing if I take off annd remove a scope.

Well My Blaser R-93 returns to zero zero pretty much ever single time I break it down and put it back together- they make them like that! But I always check zero before I go hunt just to be sure, old habit! I also will check from time to time during the season just so that there is no question- were I hunt these days it gets a little sticky if a deer runs off, private property, you have to contact the Game Warden to track game off your land!