Gunsmithing Determining torque.

[gunsnjeeps]

I know that Savage says action screws are torqued to 25 inch pounds. I don't know if mine are at 25 or are higher. Some of the shooters at my club, where my rifle was built by the member I bought it used from,seem to like 65 inch pounds.

The rifle is a Savage Palma in a laminate stock. Savage confirmed on the phone the Palma is also 25 inch pounds.

Does incrementally setting a torque wrench and turning the action screws until they move around like a reasonable way to determine the torque on them? Or would I be better of just to pull the action from the stock and put it back together at 25 inch pounds?

Need to pull the action to clean rust spots along the stock from sweat.

 

[Kadams1563]

Pull the action and re torque at 25 inch lbs. not that hard.

 

[Easy_E]

Use your torque wrench to remove the bolts ? Set it at 25 inch pounds and see if they turn ? Work your way up in five inch pound increments if you want exact poundage .

 

[gunsnjeeps]

There is always overthinking it.

Never thought about seeing where they break free.

One of those two answers are the one. Might just be the first and see if my groups change.

 

[XLR308]

There is always overthinking it.

Never thought about seeing where they break free.

One of those two answers are the one. Might just be the first and see if my groups change.

Never use a torque wrench to break bolts loose as there is a good chance you could damage it. Another flaw with that line of thinking is you will not get the same reading on break out torque as make up.

 

[Easy_E]

Never use a torque wrench to break bolts loose as there is a good chance you could damage it. Another flaw with that line of thinking is you will not get the same reading on break out torque as make up.

If you wrench is set to 25 in pounds and you feel the click and stop its no different than tightening the bolt . Now if your removing a 65 inch pound bolts at the 25 inch pound setting I could see that. A beam style wrench would work better for this . You can bet if it clicks at 25 , 30 . 35 most likely its at 65 inch pounds .
If it were me I wouldn't sweat it just get your work done , start at the factory setting and shoot. Hell try going up in torque and shooting groups you might find a sweet spot that gives better groups. This will also tell you if new bedding might be a better option.

 

[AIAW]

There is a difference between break-away torque and tightening torque. Roughly about 10 percent.

"In short, it takes less torque to loosen a threaded fastener than it does to tighten it, because the pitched threads act like an inclined plane."

Now does that really matter? Not outside of a laboratory. And the fasteners he was using were large - I am sure there is a friction coefficient to be mixed in there somewhere, dry or lubed.

Basically, just torque the damn thing!

 

[Lynn Jr]

If the torque spec is affecting the performance that much something else is most likely wrong.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Hasn't yet. I haven't pulled the action before.

Guess I'll start at 25 inch pounds.