Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Comprehensive Torque Schedule for Rifles?

1) Action screws in wood stocks
2) Action screws in wood stocks with pillars
3) Action screws in HS precision stocks with alum pillars
4) Scope rings:
a)Weaver screws that hold to base
b)Weaver screws that clamp the scope
c)Badger Ord- clamp to base
d)Badger Ord- clamp to scope.

5) Where do you fellows buy your torque wrenches at?
6) What brand/style do you prefer in the torque wrench?

Action screws in wood stocks 35
In pillars 50-65
HS stocks 50-65

Rings
Weaver base to rifle 25
weaver rings, not sure
Badger base to rifle is 25
Rings to scope 15-25
Rings to base 65

All of the above numbers are taken from various websites over the years, mostly manufacture recommendations. I keept it taped up on a cheat sheet near my tools.

Man! Thank you SO MUCH!

I had posted this question about 4 years ago and no one seemed to be able or interested in answering it.

Thank you!

I recently bought a Wheeler Fat wrench which is made specific for this - so far seems to work just fine, is set in inch pounds which is what you need for rifle stuff. What was posted though is right on, per the info included with the Fat Wrench.

Tighten till it strips then back it off 1/4 turn.....

Sorry but I couldn't resist.

Find Barsness' article on "Farmer tight". As with all his writings, it's a good read!

^

Badger base screws get 15 inch pounds and blue loctite.
Badger ring cap screws get 15-20 inch pounds.
Badger cross bolt nut to attach rings is 65 inch pounds, and I use a preset Seekonk T wrench with .5 inch socket. These recommendations are on the Badger Ordnance box and some on a sheet with a Seekonk screwdriver kit.

A few years ago, Kelly McMillan recommended on another forum that 45 inch pounds was entirely adequate for action screws in McMillan stocks. That is what I continue to use to this day, regardless whether there are pillars installed or not. Wood stocks will get 30-40 inch pounds.

We read a lot of recommendations to tighten action bolts to 65 inch pounds, and I used to. I no longer do this. The 45 inch pounds isn't going to let your rifle separate from the stock. The 65 inch pounds might stretch the threads a bit, and then they will loosen with shooting vibration. Just my 2 cents.

Since I like nice tools, I use a Seekonk torque screwdriver, the preset Seekonk T wrench and an inch pound S&K 3/8s drive torque wrench.

Anyone know the specs for Talley lightweights?

Greg told me 17#-19# on the caps. I go 25# on the bottoms, with a dab of blue.

thanks.

Been playing with my torque wrench and I actually didn't have a lot of screws as tight as I thought.

Tight as lug nuts on an 18 wheeler?