Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Savage Torque Specs

Anyone know the torque specs for the stock screws for a Savage Predator Hunter? I have one in 22-250 and want to tweak the trigger a bit but didn't see anything in the manual about it...unless I over looked it. I wasn't sure in putting things back together once I got the trigger where I wanted it what the torque should be.

Have an inch-pounds torque wrench?
Does this thing have the funny v-block screws?
All my rifles, including my Savages, are bedded and have pillars I installed to make them "hard" tightening.
The screw spins down until it hits and gets tight right there. I don't actually torque things, just a decent pull on the allen wrench with the index and middle fingers to the same point on the clock from initial contact.
In general tho, no more than 25-30 inch pounds. As long as you are consistent without being a "farmer" you should be fine.
Try 20 inch pounds first, then 25.

Yep, I have an in/lbs screwdriver. No V-block screws. I think the new AccuStock rifles don't have the wedge screw in the forend. This one has only three screws. It seems I saw somewhere that the AccuStock takes 40 in/lbs and the synthetic stocks 30-35 but, I wouldn't swear to it.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's written anywhere what they should be. Manufacturer's are negligent in telling you that.

I shoot my own custom assembled rifles on Savage Precision Target Actions. Screw tension is very important to accuracy. Keeping in mind that my stocks are all pillar bedded wood laminate and then stress free epoxy bedded with the portion of the stock from the rear action screw rearward free floated (the tang area is completely free floated which improves accuracy). The barrels are also free floated as are the barrel nuts.

Free floated trigger and tang during epoxy bedding process:



Best torque is: front screw 35 in lbs, middle screw 35 in lbs, rear screw 30 in lbs. I confirmed this on three actions, one a dual port with different screw spacing, all responded identically regardless of barrel manufacturer, rifling type or cartridge.

Here's what that looks like on the target:



Read bottom row first, left to right, then top left target. There are about 17 rounds through the top left group to check consistency. Not bad for a little bullet at 4,110 fps. You have to shoot groups and check torque settings to really know. I use a precision torque gauge similar to a torque wrench to make the settings.

This morning I called Savage and talked with someone about this and gave them the serial number. He came back and told me 30-35 in/lbs on the action screws and just snug the rear guard screw as it only held the stock/action together. Of course, a little experimentation is always in order as I found out tweaking a pre-64 Winchester.

I have the Fat Wrench torque screwdriver so getting the proper torque is just a dial in away.

So, if I get out my inchpounds wrench I'll get groups like THAT?
Wow, nice shootin.