Action screw tightening order

[Storm]

My apologies if this belongs in the rifle section.

Yesterday I contacted the technical department at Kimber to determine the proper torque for tightening the action screws on my 84M LPT in .308 (the answer to that question, BTW, is 65 in-lbs). After responding about the torque the tech made it a point to state that it was the proper order to tighten the rear screw first. Afterwards I realized that this seemed odd to me since virtually all of the bolt actions that I own (Savage, Remington, Ruger, Steyr, SIG) call for the front screw to be tightened first. The Kimber owner's manual even stated that the rear screw should be tightened down first. So, to clarify, I called Kimber back.

This time I got a different tech who gave the same answer and even offered to put me back with the original tech so he could respond as well. I was told that the way that they do it (regardless of what the owner's manual says) is to tighten down the rear screw first. Beyond that the tech seemed to suggest that to him it probably didn't matter which was tightened first.

I ended up following the order stated by the techs, but it leaves me to wonder. Does the order of tightening really matter, and if so, why?

BTW, this stock is wood laminated with a black epoxy coating with aluminum pillars and glass bedded. That said, the tech indicated that the 65 in-lb was for all Kimber stocks and didn't differentiate the screw tightening order specifically to the LPT.

 

[Wil Terry]

YES.....it does matter and tightning the rear screw first on a bolt action rifle has been correct since Peter Paul made his first million Reichsmarks.
THINK about the weight distribution on each end of the action and you'll know why in NO time.

 

[Storm]

Just so we are on the same page the front screw is towards the muzzle and the rear screw is towards the butt, correct?

 

[aminyard]

To do it correctly the screws should be tightened at the same time, in ~5 in/lbs increments. This ensures that there is no uneven stresses imposed on the weapon.

 

[Birdhunter1]

To do it correctly the screws should be tightened at the same time, in ~5 in/lbs increments. This ensures that there is no uneven stresses imposed on the weapon.

Agreed!
A little on one screw, a little on the other until you have them both tightened to proper specs.

 

[bgr2014]

Action screw tightning

I like to tighten the screws a little at a time and make sure the recoil lug is back against the stock mating surface, then tighten both screws to torque specs. starting with the front screw. While at it check to make sure the screws have clearance in the stock holes and aren't taking some of the recoil which can split the stock. Then check the magazine box, it should have some play in it, then you know you are clamping on the stock and not on the magazine box.