How tight for the guard screws on Rem 600?

[Gun Geezer]

I inherited Dad's Remington 600. 308 Win. I replaced the plastic trigger guard with an aftermarket aluminum one. I free floated the barrel from 1" in front of the lug to the end of the stock, then refinished it. The stock has not been glass or pillar bedded.

I took it out today to shoot. 2 good shots and then 4" a flyer, at only 50 yards. Let it cool down for 5 minutes and repeated that performance except the ~4" flyer was on the 2nd shot instead of the third. That's a long way off when only shooting 50 yards.

What gives? Stubby free floated barrel should not be an issue.
I'm pretty sure the scope is good and the mounts/rings are on solid.

I disassembled it just now to see what I might see. Only thing I noted is that the guard screws were not hardly tight at all. Should I just snug them up pretty good? Don't have a in-lb toque driver, will get one if needed, but what is the correct in-pound torque for the guard bolts?

Thanks for any help.

Glass and pillars are not out of the question if I need to have it done.

 

[243winxb]

Remove wood in front of the lug thats touching the barrel. Make sure the magazine is fitting in to the stock corectly. If the magazine is to long, it may keep the screws from pulling the action tight into the stock. Tighten the lug screw first, then the tang screw.

 

[Hookeye]

IMHO you seat the lug against the rear of the stock pocket with the action screws barely loose, then snug 'em.

If it won't touch the back of the pocket, bed the lug.

 

[Hookeye]

I got one (600) where the prev owner totally misadjusted the trigger to dangerous.
Free floated the bbl, refinished the stock, changed springs and set trigger correctly (and sealed adj screws).

Had some loads from a prev .243 win (neck sized). They fit OK so plopped down at my bud's range (bench absent for repairs- had to shoot off ground w rear bag and bipods).

Put 5 into .75" at 100 yds.

My ol' lady hadn't shot for years, after some refresher coaching she popped a 1.5" group with it (for 3)............at a little farther, 135 yards. Bipods and bag.

Little gun with buttplate kinda popped ya, but she said it was actually fun. 105# she was (then, has since discovered pizza and other).

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