Stock fit

[willtim]

I have a Winchester Model 70 338 WM. It's stainless, CRF, and Boss. It has a Jewell trigger added by the previous owner. I hated the plastic stock so I bought an HS Precision with an aluminum bedding block. The trigger would not fit so I used a Dremel to remove some aluminum. It seems to fit now but here's my problem. When I lightly tighten the mounting screws ( there are three) the bolt and trigger cycle and fire with no issues. However when I torque them to 65 lbs the bolt won't hold the firing pin. I can loosen the rear screw and the firing pin will engage and the trigger works. Obviously I'm no gunsmith. Help? Thanks.

 

[Frog4aday]

Try:
50 in/lb on front screw
25 in/lb on rear screw
5 (yes, 5) in/lb on middle screw

You are bending your action at the rear tang with too much torque back there, allowing the firing pin to fall when you lower the bolt.

But what the rifle is really telling you is it needs to be glass bedded front and rear to achieve a "stress-free" bedding situation for your action. You wouldn't think this would be necessary due to the aluminum bedding block, but your rifle is telling you otherwise.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I would be looking at bolt protrusion into the tang (rear screw) before I did anything else. Next would be binding of the mag box, it needs a little wiggle room. I had to spend hours getting my HS Precision stocks correct on older Classic (90's) era rifles because of your same issues. Bottom metal fitment was also another issue altogether.
Here's mine finished.

Cheers.

 

[willtim]

Thank you both!

 

[Greyfox]

Try:
50 in/lb on front screw
25 in/lb on rear screw
5 (yes, 5) in/lb on middle screw

You are bending your action at the rear tang with too much torque back there, allowing the firing pin to fall when you lower the bolt.

But what the rifle is really telling you is it needs to be glass bedded front and rear to achieve a "stress-free" bedding situation for your action. You wouldn't think this would be necessary due to the aluminum bedding block, but your rifle is telling you otherwise.

I agree with this, including the middle screw(if your "particular" Model 70 has one…). I had a similar issue with a Model 70 stock replacement. Before bedding….. It's quite possible that your Jewel trigger is still binding, but only when the stock is fully torqued. Your replacement stock was cut for use with the OEM trigger. You may still need more clearance. Check for contact areas with some red lipstick on your trigger assembly to determine if this is the case, and, if so remove additionsl stock material in this area.
If this is not the issue, and you need to re-bed, it is particularly important that the recoil lug face/bottom, and flat where the front bedding screw hole where it contacts the stock, is also bedded. Be sure the bedding screws and holes have a release agent applied. When the barreled action is placed in the stock with the bedding compound applied, the screws should be attached with little to no torque, for alignment only….do not tighten them until the bedding is fully cured.