Sling Swivel Studs (Say that five times, fast)

[Bobson]

The front sling swivel stud on my rifle ...swivels. Am I being needlessly anal? Are they supposed to swivel? Or is there something I can do to get it tight in the proper position? Basically, I don't want it to swivel, but maybe that's just inexperience... this is my first centerfire rifle.

Two pictures attached. The first (left) picture shows the front SSS as it is when it's tightened snugly (not over-torqued, just nice and snug by hand). The second (right) picture shows the front SSS as I'd like it to be when it's snug, but in the picture, it's loose and swivels freely.

Also, regarding Loctite; should I apply it to the threads of the sling swivel studs?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Bobson]

By the way, I'm picking up a Harris bipod for the rifle. Will a loose sling swivel stud be a problem?

 

[chrome_austex]

if the stock is wood, and the swivel is threaded into wood, you can probably 'over tighten' it to line up properly. (metal is harder than wood and you _probably_ won't break anything The wood will just compress

They're not really supposed to swivel unless they obviously do so freely, however having a loose swivel won't cause the bipod any issues (the bipod just uses it to as something to pull on, and it won't pull out even if a little loose).

I say throw a bar through there and tighten it until it's straight. I wouldn't use any glue or thread locking compound.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Rather than cranking the heck out of it I would go to Ace hardware or someplace similar and buy some small washers to use as shims between the swivel head and the stock to maintain the proper alignment. The bipod mount will engage the hole in the swivel and then push the base of the bipod against the stock which will hold everything tight and straight.

 

[rcmodel]

There should be a blind nut sunk in the barrel channel in the forearm.

If you can't use a punch through the hole to tighten it far enough, take it clear out and counter-sink the nut just a frog-hair more.

Once you get it to tighten where you want it?
Take it out again and put a drop of Blue Lock-Tight on the threads and put it back together.

rc

 

[jmr40]

#1, it won't hurt a thing, and is fairly common on a lot of stocks. The stud would have to make about a dozen turns before it would come out. That looks like a Winchester 70 EW with the B&C stock. A little locktite wouldn't hurt.

 

[Bobson]

That looks like a Winchester 70 EW with the B&C stock. A little locktite wouldn't hurt.

That's what it is. Thanks for the answers, folks. I'll get on this later tonight.

 

[arizona98tj]

Don't use red.