What is a recommended starting point for a 1B forend tension in in/lbs?
Last season I was shooting 1/2-3/4 with my .270, I took it apart (just the wood) after the season to thoroughly clean it and when I resumed this year accuracy was beyond an inch. Any chance anyone has a good starting point for forend tension? I have no clue where it was before.
Thank you.

Don't know if this is the answer you want, but where you live keeping tension the same will be difficult.

One of my lightweight #1s, 7x57 was a stringer. 5 shot groups were 1/2" wide, 4 inches high. I tried all the usual tricks, none worked.
Finally, based in part on bolt action experience, I freefloated the fore end so that the only points of contact are where the rear of it hits the action and where it abuts the lug the screw goes into.
Group became circles under 1 moa with plain old PP 175 gr softpoint factory loads.

You have a much fatter fore end and a fatter barrel. So it may or may not work but easily "put back" w/acraglass.

Personally, I hate the fat fore end and replace them all with the AH design even on the 300 H&H (was a re pad B in 30-06) that was just finished up. Just screwed on the AH fore end and went shooting.

Thanks for the write up GW, I suppose I'll go with the trial and error method. If it did nice groups in the past, I'm sure I can find a tension that will work..