Author Topic: Measuring Torque on Stock Screws... (Read 1027 times)

Patriot_1776 · « **on:** January 04, 2005, 02:54:22 PM »

Can anyone tell me where I can find a tool that measures and delivers torque in inch/pounds? I don't really know where to start in looking for one, as I'm not sure what they would be called. :? Thanks

-Patriot

while99 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2005, 04:28:07 PM »

I have two torque wrenches that measure in inch-pounds. One measures five through 50 and the other is 50 through 200, I believe. I got them through MSC Industrial Supply. Call 1-800-645-7270 or www.mscdirect.com and ask for their BIG catalog. It has thousands of pages of tools.

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2005, 04:42:34 PM »

while99,

Thanks, it seems those are exactly what I am looking for. How is their quality? They look sturdy and long-lasting. :grin:

-Patriot

while99 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2005, 05:07:36 PM »

Their quality is OK. I think they are American-made but I am not sure. I have not used the one rated 50 to 200 inch-pounds. The one rated 5 to 50 inch pounds is used on a regular basis.
My standard procedure for tightening the three screws on a Model 70 Winchester is to tighten all three to 20 inch-pounds and then tighten the front and back screws to 35 inch-pounds. This keeps the middle screw snug enough that it won't back out but not so snug that it will put a bind in the action. I don't know if those are factory specs but it works for me.

marylandeer · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2005, 03:06:41 AM »

Here is another place to look at. I get all of my tools from them never had any problems.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2696
You may need something smaller than this though, lowest setting is 20" pounds

bluebayou · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2005, 01:08:08 PM »

These are pretty nifty too. Select "Preset T-handle"
http://www.seekonk.com/torqstart.html

smoky · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2005, 04:24:32 AM »

I believe that most smiths will tell you to torque the stock screws to 65 inch pounds. I don't know who came up with that or what the basis is, I just know that I've heard it over and over.

Gunnut69, do you have an opinion on this?

Smoky

while99 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2005, 07:30:43 PM »

I've seen the 65 inch-pound figure listed in the Brownell's catalog but that was for a wooden stock with a built-in aluminum bedding block. I believe if you try to tighten the screws on a plain wooden stock that tight you'll crush the wood fibers. I don't have any concrete data for the settings I use, I just know what works for me. I should probably contact USRAC and see what they recommend.

bluebayou · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2005, 08:55:01 PM »

You can read a similiar thread under "Rem 700 ADL synthetic stock torque" right here under Bolt Action Rifles

oneb · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2005, 10:32:26 AM »

Sears sold me mine! I have never used it as the rifle that abolutely requires precise torquing to maintain its warrantee -- a WBY SBGM-- shoots so well that I'll never take it apart.

Has anyone else used theirs from Sears?

oneb

Sevcrist · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2005, 11:08:00 AM »

I have been looking and looking for a good torque wrench at a reasonable price and have had little success. My criteria for the wrench is 1/4 drive, 0 to 60 or so, inch pounds and under 75 dollars. I want to use it for the action screws and scope mounting.

So far, the best solution I have come up with is to get a 1/4 inch drive beam torque wrench from Park Tools, a bike tool maker, www.parktool.com. It's about 35 dollars and is 0-60 inch pounds. Then I will get the 1/4 attachment sockets with the appropriate torx or allen heads from my local Sears store. Overall cost should be about 50 dollars. The click and dial style torque wrenches that I have seen are either too big or too expensive for firearm use.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2005, 11:18:14 AM »

Mine is a Craftsman inch/lb wrench. I use it on my Sendero and on my son's Model Seven as it is steel pillar bedded. I use 65 inch/lbs on my Sendero because it shoots best at that torque. My son's rifle also shoots best at 65.
When you get a steel or aluminium bedded rifle tightened down and it still is not shooting like you want, try adjusting the torque a few inch/lbs at a time and shooting groups. On my factory stock Sendero it adjusted the group size like the weight on a BOSS system. Out of the box the front screw was set at 12inch/lbs and the rear was at 21. From 35 inch/lbs the groups tightened up all the way to 52. At 55 they opened up again. Latter a benchrest shooter told me that my bedding block and action were improperly mated and the action was under stress. I took some emery paper to the bedding block and skim coated it with Accurglass, using shoe polish on the action as a release agent I bolted the rifle back together and torqued it to 65 inch/lbs. I also bedded the recoil lug the same way. The rifle went from 1.5" MOA avg. to .25" MOA.

10 shots at 100 yards with 117 grain Hornady SPBT over H4831 with CCI Benchrest primers

oneb · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2005, 09:40:54 AM »

riddelofsteel,

Nice work!

Could you give a few more details on how exactly you used the torque wrench? the fittings involved etc. I have not used one and I'm reluctant to just start bnanging away at it.

Thanks,
oneb

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2005, 11:02:36 AM »

I guess I forgot that part.
First you need allen head screws holding the action in the stock. If your rifle came with slotted screws you can change them out by checking the Brownells catalog.
The inch/lb torque wrench will come in a 1/4 or 1/2" drive like most standard socket sets. Sears sells an adapter that converts the socket drive to an allen wrench of the proper size. Adding an adapter to a torque wrench will affect the torque reading. (i.e. 65 inch/lbs reading may be slightly more or less than 65 inch/lbs) But what we are looking for here is consistency not exact readings.
Also beware of torque on soft stock materials. You may collapse or damage a wood or even synthetic stock made of softer materials. This technique is for pillar bedded, bedding block, and hard synthetic stocks like fiberglass.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2005, 11:08:10 AM »

I guess I forgot that part.
First you need allen head screws holding the action in the stock. If your rifle came with slotted screws you can change them out by checking the Brownells catalog.
The inch/lb torque wrench will come in a 1/4 or 1/2" drive like most standard socket sets. Sears sells an adapter that converts the socket drive to an allen wrench of the proper size. Adding an adapter to a torque wrench will affect the torque reading. (i.e. 65 inch/lbs reading may be slightly more or less than 65 inch/lbs) But what we are looking for here is consistency not exact readings.
Also beware of torque on soft stock materials. You may collapse or damage a wood or even synthetic stock made of softer materials. This technique is for pillar bedded, bedding block, and hard synthetic stocks like fiberglass.

plateshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2005, 03:38:42 PM »

Below is a link to the torque wrench that I use. If there is a retail store near you, it is on sale for $17.99 in the latest flyer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2696