I've got a new Sako 85 Finn light, and I pulled the action to work on the trigger. Got the trigger great, but not getting the kind of groups I should be. I noticed that the screws weren't that tight when I loosend them. I did tighten them up pretty tight when I put her back together. I don't have a torque wrench with me, so it was just by feel. Tightened the top one first, and the one below the trigger guard not quite as much.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of how tight I should have tightend them?

300 WSM/180 gr. Accubonds/Nosler Custom factory loads.

Thanks

If you mean action screws when you say lugs, I take it you don't mean bolt lugs, then I would take it back apart to check for contamination of either that "novel" bedding plate system or the barrel channel.

It sounds like something is wrong as usually I just snug mine up and tighten the by feel to where they feel "about right" and it's fine. try to snug both up and then tighten a bit at a time, alternating between the two.

If there is no contamination or other compromise of the bedding then check the scope and mounts. I don't like the bedding system of the 85 but have to admit that it appears to work well if sound.

More likely that your rifle doesn't like the 180gn accubond . Try a different projectile.
I had a model 70 7mm WSM that shot 5 inch groups with the 139gn Hornady SST and under 1 inch groups with the 140gn accubond and the same powdercharge. Have to find the right pill for the rifle at hand.

I have a Finnlight 300WSM that will not shoot factory Federal Accubonds but puts Nosler Partitions into one hole. My groups were so bad and I was getting pressure sign on extraction that I returned the Accubond ammo to Federal. I was told all were in spec but Partitions were offered as a replacement. I have read of this problem here in previous posts. My personal feeling is the Accubond ammo is loaded too hot. I talked with a tech guy at Federal and he told me the powder charge might differ from an Accubond to a Partition of the same weight depending on the computer program. I now handload the Accubonds with no problems and good accuracy.

I took the question to mean that it used to shoot that load well but the groups have opened up after he took it out of the stock and put it back together again?

I don't know how you intend to tighten them but about 25in-lbs will do fine with a factory plastic stock. Without a torque wrench I use one of two methods.

If using a handheld driver and know I can tighten to 20in-lbs or so.

Using an allen wrench I tighten everything hand tight then tighten by a quarter turn. I get more in-lbs that way and can't say exactly how many but it's the most repeatable method if you don't have a torque wrench.

Sorry for some of the confusion.
The gun is brand new. I have never shot it until yesterday. I bought the Nosler Custom factory bullets because I'm unable to hand load at current location.

I will go get some other bullets today. Will try the Partitions. May see if they have any X bullets in factory loads. Just have a few days left before I head back to the south. Have had a great season in Montana, just not the right opportunity at the big one! As of today, I am cow hunting. I have never used a torque wrench when tightening an action, and thought I may have over tightened. The groups were 3 to 4 inches, although the wind and rest weren't idea by any means either. Hope everyone is having a great season, and thanks for the help.

Just for the record. It seems that I never get factory loaded Accubonds to shoot. May go back to the Core-Lokt, or Power Points for factory rounds!

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
I took the question to mean that it used to shoot that load well but the groups have opened up after he took it out of the stock and put it back together again?

Sorry, It is new, and this was initial sighting in. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by tc98:

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
I took the question to mean that it used to shoot that load well but the groups have opened up after he took it out of the stock and put it back together again?

Sorry, It is new, and this was initial sighting in. Thanks

Ah.

In that case ignore what I said.

Try different brands of ammo like the guys say.

If you can get hold of them Sako ammunition would be what they use in the factory to shoot the test targets.

I had a Sako 75 finnlight that would not group accubond's either. For breakin I used 180 gr. power-shok which are very accurate in that gun. Used TSX for hunting, but sadly got rid of the rifle.

A bolt action rifle should be tightened up evenly..On a two screw tighten them back and fourth a bit at a time until both are very snug or tight, then let the rear screw off a half or full turn so you don't get a bind in your action which I suspect you have...same on a 3 screw but don't put any pressure on the middle screw, in fact if possible toss it. ON most 3 screw guns I plug the hole and use a wood screw so as not to bind the action. I am not sure on the new Sakos..

I usually tighten until I can hear the wood crack a little, then shoot it a while, later tighten till cracking again, eventually the wood will compress till you don't hear the cracking.

kidding, I don't have a sako but I always tighten mine alternating then I hold the screwdriver with just the tips of my fingers (to limit leverage/power) and tighten till snug, will check them again after shooting a little.

However, sighting in with an unknown load is very iffy, I recently was doing it with one of my guns, and thought it was the scope which I'd moved, turned out it was just a load and bullet my rifle hated. grabbed some factory and it was great.

Red

quote:

On a two screw tighten them back and fourth a bit at a time until both are very snug or tight, then let the rear screw off a half or full turn so you don't get a bind in your action which I suspect you have

Agree with Ray 100%.



I'd even attempt to get the action screws right before running off Willy-Nilly & purchasing some more expensive factory ammo - you never know?

An easy acid test - as you do the action-screw tightening, try the bolt, if you feel any bind on it at all keep easing the rear screw off until things slide back & forth.

On a coupla mine the rear screw is , Ugh, Well, sorta just snug. You'd be surprised at how little effort to takes to bind an action; especially long ones like Winchesters & Savages.

quote:

I usually tighten until I can hear the wood crack a little, then shoot it a while, later tighten till cracking again, eventually the wood will compress till you don't hear the cracking.

60 inch pounds.