Gunsmithing Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

[noflyers]

Has anybody noticed any accuracy improvements, torque setting retention or other improvements by replacing original fasteners ie, action screws and such with higher quality fasteners.

I know "if it's not broke don't fix it" I was just thinking the more variables we eliminate or mitigate the more we stack the odds in our favor. So does it make any difference?

I know a lot of you guys are running custom actions w/ high quality fasteners already but some of us aren't, yet.

Small victories..are in the details!

 

[68GT]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

I've had the edges of factory slotted action screws start to round over from repeated torquing, made my own out of grade 8 hex cap screws and tapered washers, no problem since.

 

[oneshot onekill]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

I thought I was as Knit-picky as anyone... Until now!...LOL!!!

Granted, the best components make for the best finished product but I really can't imagine "accuracy" being affected by better action screws. I will say I prefer Hex-screws over flat or phillips.

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

I hate phillips head screws with a passion. At least once a week I proclaim my hatred for them...who makes this crap? Every bolt head should just be square and then I won't have any more problems with shit rounding out, wrong size phillips, hollow ground flat-tips, twisted allen keys, stripped socket hedas that you are trying to beat a metric or torx into...

 

[noflyers]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneshot onekill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought I was as Knit-picky as anyone... Until now!...LOL!!!

Granted, the best components make for the best finished product but I really can't imagine "accuracy" being affected by better action screws. I will say I prefer Hex-screws over flat or phillips. </div></div>

Nit-picky, yes, I know it is a bit in the weeds as far as details go!

There has to be some reason for errant shots, it can't be user error

. Accuracy may not have been the right phrase how about consistency. Ditto on the hex over flat or Phillips.

For fun I used to play with late model street cars and I would always chase threads and replace with ARP fasteners when I could, it saved a lot of headaches later. Tedious job for sure but it made assembly/dis-assembly easier and I never had to wonder if something had loosened up.

So I am guessing the answer is no unless it is just user preference; devil is in the details!

 

[oneshot onekill]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: noflyers</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneshot onekill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought I was as Knit-picky as anyone... Until now!...LOL!!!

Granted, the best components make for the best finished product but I really can't imagine "accuracy" being affected by better action screws. I will say I prefer Hex-screws over flat or phillips. </div></div>

Nit-picky, yes, I know it is a bit in the weeds as far as details go!

There has to be some reason for errant shots, <span style="color: #FF0000">it can't be user error</span>. Accuracy may not have been the right phrase how about consistency. Ditto on the hex over flat or Phillips.

For fun I used to play with late model street cars and I would always chase threads and replace with ARP fasteners when I could, it saved a lot of headaches later. Tedious job for sure but it made assembly/dis-assembly easier and I never had to wonder if something had loosened up.

So I am guessing the answer is no unless it is just user preference; devil is in the details! </div></div>
Was that a joke?... 'Cause I gotta tell ya... an errant shot is almost <span style="font-weight: bold">ALWAYS</span> user error!

 

[jasonk]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hate phillips head screws with a passion. At least once a week I proclaim my hatred for them...who makes this crap? Every bolt head should just be square and then I won't have any more problems with shit rounding out, wrong size phillips, hollow ground flat-tips, twisted allen keys, stripped socket hedas that you are trying to beat a metric or torx into...</div></div>

Phillips are still better than straight slot. I don't know why in this day and age they even make straight slot screws or screwdrivers anymore. The only thing a SS screwdriver is good for is prying stuff open.

 

[noflyers]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

I am not one to blame my equipment for my misses; yes it was a joke and I edited the post to reflect that.

In my case I will always assume it is my error, guilty 'til proven innocent!

 

[300sniper]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

the torque you apply to your action/stock screws is nowhere near the max torque of the fastener. a "higher quality" fastener is not going to be any benefit.

 

[chpprguy]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the torque you apply to your action/stock screws is nowhere near the max torque of the fastener. a "higher quality" fastener is not going to be any benefit. </div></div>

I "slightly" disagree with only one point.....

when the fasteners are allen or torx, the nicer/higher grade fasteners do not strip or round near as badly (at the head from normal use)

 

[300sniper]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the torque you apply to your action/stock screws is nowhere near the max torque of the fastener. a "higher quality" fastener is not going to be any benefit. </div></div>

I "slightly" disagree with only one point.....

when the fasteners are allen or torx, the nicer/higher grade fasteners do not strip or round near as badly (at the head from normal use) </div></div>

what torque are you placing on an action screw that you are stripping or rounding out the drive on a socket head or torx head cap screw? i use a bunch of mystery manufacture (i am assuming import, i buy them by the pound at the surplus store.) shc screws of all sizes for a bunch of applications and stripping the drive is something that i have never had an issue with. that is, when using the proper tool on them (i was guilty last night of shoving a hex key into a tox fastener to change a brake light on my dodge

).

 

[chpprguy]

Re: Any benefit to higher quality fasteners?

I'm referring mostly to the factory Rem/Win screws that are countersunk with the smaller hex key drive....

course, I use a 3' cheater bar when torquing those little screws....