Action screw torque

[KDX]

Has anyone ever done a test to see whether or not the amount of torque on the action screws (and forearm) has any effect on accuracy like it does on a rim fire or centre fire rifle? Is there a recommended amount for a TX200?

[Seanh]

It's going to depend on the individual rifle. I've had them that I had to torque very tight I've had them where I had to basically back them off a little bit. If you have a consistent hold and consistent trigger pull a highly recommend simply testing torque valve. 

Are you having any particular accuracy issues or are you just looking for general assembly requirements?

[Frank in Fairfield]

I tighten the screws on the forearms til they squeak.
They never loosen.

[Yarddog]

On my TX200, I torque my forearm screws with a FAT wrench to 22 inch-pounds...the front trigger guard screw to 30-35 inch-pounds. I use VibraTite on all, so I can retighten as necessary.  I use the torque settings as specified by nced on this forum for the HW rifles, since the thread sizes are the same on the TX.  Never a problem.  If you have a calibrated wrist and are confident in it, no need for the FAT wrench.  Mine's pretty calibrated, but FrankinFairfield's advice works great too.

[Gear_Junkie]

On my TX, I tighten the forearm screws to 10 in-lb (which seems to be a hair more than snug), and both of the rear screws to 15 in-lb.  I use Vibratite on the forearms screws, and nothing on the rear screws, and I haven't noticed any loosening so far.  I'm afraid to go over 15 in-lb because I really don't want to compress/crack the stock.

[KDX]

Thanks for the replys gentlemen. I had the rifle apart and when I was putting it back together I was thinking about the torque values so I made this post. I have a Fat Wrench so I put 15 inch pounds on the front screws and 20 in pounds on the rears just because it seemed like an adequate amount. I can't recall ever reading if there was a suggested amount for the screws or not.

[Yogi]

I tighten the screws on the forearms til they squeak.
They never loosen.

Me 2, real scientific...

-Y

[WyoMan]

Count me as number 3!
In fact, I don't even own a torque driver. Honestly, and I'm willing to be wrong, I think they're mostly for assembly-line work. I have a torque wrench for the big stuff, but I think the smaller screws should be torqued by your sense of feel. There are just too many variables (some we can't control) that have a huge effect on the torque the screw can take, what it needs, and the actual clamping force from the torque.

Develop and use your sense of feel and the screw will tell you when it's there. Maybe this isn't possible and I'm wrong... But I would have never been able to assemble and dis-assemble this 50 year-old gem without a good sense of feel:


It works for me, anyway 

Wyo

[Frank in Fairfield]

In the TX Owner’s Manual, it cautions about not tightening the front trigger screw too tight.
For HW/R rifles, it is the rear trigger screw that should not be too tight...

[Fred J]

I tighten my front screws to 12.5 inch-pound, the front trigger screw to 12.5 inch pounds, and the rear trigger screw to 20 inch-pounds. I put locktite on the front screws, and none on the trigger screws.

This is as light as I can go without the screws loosening. Before a field target match I will always check the front trigger screw to make sure it tighten to 12.5 inch-pounds. The other three screws never need to be checked.