Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Action screw torque specs

I am wondering if anyone knows the torque specs for the action screws on a Howa 1500?

Thanks.

How much one tightens guard screws depends on, and, varies with the material of the stock and the screw. If the stock material is easily compressed, or, the guard screw easily stretches (material too soft), then "torque" settings will vary everytime the firearm is reassembled. Stocks such as these require some means to provide stability so that good quality screws can be tightened with some semblance of repeatability every time the gun is taken down and reassembled. Enter Pillars.

Accuracy wise, guns having stocks that incorporate "pillars" can greatly benefit from some sort of uniform "torque" setting. Afterall accuracy is dependent on the ability to repeat every process from the assembly of the firearm into it's stock, the manufacture of the ammunition, to sight picture and trigger squeeze. "You have to make a perfect shot and then clone it". That's where "torque" settings become handy.

Again, how much torque is required? There should be enough, to keep the action from shifting under recoil. Guard screws should be tight. Not eyeball popping tight, but tight. If your rifle stock has pillars, or, some other aluminum type bedding block such as those like HS Precision, then the commonly accepted figure of 60-65 inch pounds seems fine. The object is not so much a specific torque setting, but something that holds the gun together tightly, that can be repeated.

So, my short answer to your question would be... it depends.

Thanks for the reply.

I was guessing that it might not be specific, but was looking mainly for some general guidelines.

I bought a spiffy new inch-lb torque wrench and was curious to see the consensus, or something generally accepted.

The specimen in question is a simple, inexpensive, stainless 1500 in a heinously cheap synthetic stock, chambered for the 25-06. It shoots pretty well as it sits. I put a Jard 26oz trigger in it night before last and was thinking, as I put it back in the stock..hmmm, how can I complicate this to incorporate my new torque wrench toy?"

I believe 40-45 inch pounds is plenty to hold everything together right. Torquing to 65 inch pounds is quoted often, but it can compress areas of the stock, stretch threads and simply isn't necessary.

If it is not bedded in a wood stock 25 inch pounds.

Pillar bedded in a wood stock 35 inch pounds.

Pillar bedded in a syntetic stock 45 inch pounds; however 35 inch pounds might be enough.