I have a HB S/S synthetic stocked T3 in .223 which is the most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever owned. So good that I dare not fiddle with the action screws and the rifle has never been taken out of the stock. For that inevitable day I have purchased a Wheeler torque spanner and will try to adjust back to the same settings. When that day comes I would also like to replace the existing cross slot screws with allen head ones if such exist. I can't find T3 bolts in the Brownells catalog. Does anyone know if these are available anywhere and what size/thread they are. Thanks.

look in your phone book for a nut and bolt shop. take the screw out of the stock and ask for replacements there. put the new stock screws in hand tight. it wont change a thing.
I replaced my steyr stock screws 4 5mm allen heads in SS. i remove the rifle from the stock on a regular basis and return it to a hand tight lock. it never drifts or shifts.

The guard screws of the Tikka 595/695 rifles are standard M6 X 1.0 thread. (6mm dia, 1mm pitch) AFAIK, the T3 screws are the same.

High tensile, socket head countersunk screws of that size certainly exist – I have some of various lengths in my workshop – and they shouldn’t be too hard to find, even in America. They are not threaded for the full length of the shank. The length of plain shank increases with the total length of the screw, so if you want plenty of plain shank, like the factory screws, buy over-length ones and cut them to the required over-all length.

The only real problem is that the Tikka screw heads are 8.9mm diameter, but the heads of standard 6mm countersunk screws are about 11.9mm in diameter, so they would need some modification. Also re-bluing, if you want to change them to a raised countersunk shape, like the originals.

Look up Fastenall.They will have them and have outlets all over the USA.

Thanks everyone. I'm in Australia so metric screws shouldn't be too hard to find. Before asking this question I searched these forums and at least one person said they had a problem with accuracy after removing the action from the stock until they sorted out the screw torque issue which is why I was concerned. I have a set of old B Square Sako screws which I think are socket head. (I'm down on the farm and won't be able to check them until I return to town in a few days) I wonder if they are standard metric 6mm, if so I guess my problem is solved.

quote:

I have a set of old B Square Sako screws which I think are socket head. (I'm down on the farm and won't be able to check them until I return to town in a few days) I wonder if they are standard metric 6mm, if so I guess my problem is solved.

Yes, the thread will be the same, but the heads will be wrong for the Tikka. Sako guard screws have a 60 degree contersunk head, the Tikka needs a 90 degree countersink. The Sako jobs could be modified, of course, but it would probably be easier to start with standard 90 degree c-s socket head screws.

My T3 has been out of the stock a couple of times already. I just tightened the screws until they felt very snug. Point of impact has stayed the same on range trips. I wouldn't worry about torque specs.