Winchester pre64 model 70 action screw torque specs

[Alibiiv]

I have a pre-64 Winchester model 70 in .270 Winchester that I just finished glass bedding, floating the barrel and pillar bedding. I started looking for specs to torque the action screws, but.......could not find anything in a search here in the forum and also on the net??? I did find answers like, "There ain't any" , but don't believe it. This particular pre-64 has an additional screw that is about four inches in front of the front action screw that holds the barrel tight into the stock. I'm not too familiar with the Winchesters, this too is something that I have never encountered. When I bedded the stock I did bed just past the boss in the barrel that this screw is threaded into, and then floated the barrel out to the fore end. I thought that if the rifle did not shoot the way I would like it the glass could be removed from around the boss. Does anyone have any information on what these screws get torqued at, or....know where I can find information on the specs.

 

[Laguna Freak]

I believe it is 35 in-lbs. I know it seems light but they are slotted screws. I recently bought a 2001 M70 Featherweight in 300 WSM that is barely shot and has pillar and glass bedding that looks like a professional installation. I researched online to find torque specs.

Heads up, when I torqued the trigger guard screw to 35 in lbs the magazine floor plate would not open. So, I left the recoil lug action screw at 35 and the others at just snug with blue loctite. I've only shot 20 load development rounds through it so not yet determined if this work-around is ok. I may have to shim my screw holes between the bottom metal and pillars if I need to increase torque. With pillars and glass, I could easily torque to 60+ in lbs with socket button-head screws or even socket head capscrews but they (capscrews) wont give the right "look" that this rifle deserves.

 

[Nomosendero]

Do not over torque the middle screw, it should be barely tight, google this, alot of good info.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

Blue Loc-tite on action screws? Good luck with that.....

 

[Nomosendero]

Good luck indedd and it has worked well for me on a M70 Featherwt 30-06AI that is pretty robust

 

[Laguna Freak]

Blue Loc-tite on action screws? Good luck with that.....

Tiny dab on the trigger guard screw only. Studied up on it first.

 

[Bob Wright]

Bedding the bottom metal might help if torquing screws is binding the mag release. Sounds like the wood to metal fit is causing the bottom metal to load unevenly. Its fairly easy to do vs the action bedding.

 

[FnSpr1akid]

Front screw it a shoot and tune affair in my experience. I torque my my two rear screws to 35 and 25.

 

[Laguna Freak]

Bedding the bottom metal might help if torquing screws is binding the mag release. Sounds like the wood to metal fit is causing the bottom metal to load unevenly. Its fairly easy to do vs the action bedding.

Thanks Bob! Good idea that I will keep in mind.

 

[Alibiiv]

I believe it is 35 in-lbs. I know it seems light but they are slotted screws. I recently bought a 2001 M70 Featherweight in 300 WSM that is barely shot and has pillar and glass bedding that looks like a professional installation. I researched online to find torque specs.

Heads up, when I torqued the trigger guard screw to 35 in lbs the magazine floor plate would not open. So, I left the recoil lug action screw at 35 and the others at just snug with blue loctite. I've only shot 20 load development rounds through it so not yet determined if this work-around is ok. I may have to shim my screw holes between the bottom metal and pillars if I need to increase torque. With pillars and glass, I could easily torque to 60+ in lbs with socket button-head screws or even socket head capscrews but they (capscrews) wont give the right "look" that this rifle deserves.

I did read where it was suggested to just tighten the center action screw finger tight or just tight enough to prevent it from backing out. Thank you for the reply, nice looking shooting iron you have there.

 

[Laguna Freak]

Front screw it a shoot and tune affair in my experience. I torque my my two rear screws to 35 and 25.

How much torque can you get on a slotted head front screw without destroying it? Not to hijack Alibiiv's thread but this is my first M70 since I was a young bronc'n buck in 1980

 

[Nomosendero]

The quality and more importantly the FIT of the screwdriver has a lot to do with that!

 

[Alibiiv]

How much torque can you get on a slotted head front screw without destroying it? Not to hijack Alibiiv's thread but this is my first M70 since I was a young bronc'n buck in 1980

You're not hijacking the thread............. I am familiar with Ruger 77s, the factory specs for torque of the front receiver screw is 95inch pounds of torque. That is on a 1/4-28 screw. But......as Nomosendero wrote..............the quality and fit of the screwdriver and also the tensile strength of the screw have a lot to do with how much torque can be put on the screw.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

The key is to have a gunsmithing screwdriver set. Don't use your Harbor Freight drivers on guns no matter how good they are.