Loosened the screw and then tightened to 10 inch pounds. No good. Turned it up to 15 inch pounds and that was the magic number. Closed the groups up dramatically. For those that have a rifle that doesn't pattern with ammo you want to use, play with the torque setting on your action screw before trying different ammo.

Sounds to me like you need to bed that stock. That torque job will hold up until the weather changes.

So you are saying you had a screw loose?

I've read that before. I suppose drawing the bolt too tight can warp the receiver? For 50 years I tightened mine as tight as I could. I don't now.

Agree with 52carl.
Action up to and including the kick lug needs bedded, action screw holes slightly larger than screws. Barrel forward of lug free from touching stock. Make sure magazine box floats a little between action & floor plate when screws are tight.
With this done, screws should become solid tight and stop. Final tight requires very little more.
Has worked for me in the past.

yes 15-20 , some friends found they started crushing wood at 30 inch pounds so there is a too much

I am sure the exact species of wood matters but if you need tighter than 20 inch pounds your fit is probably bad and it is time to bed the action and not try and hold it with the screws.

Don’t be afraid to check with manufacturer of your firearm. My new 17hmr calls for 18-25….never over 30. Start low and shoot a group, bump it up a couple and shoot another group till you find your sweet spot. I’m not punching paper, rather shooting coyotes on the run …..needs to be minute of fast coyote accurate.

Obviously you didn't read my post. Being from MN, did you graduate from the Learing Center?

You can definitely over tighten them.

My sons marlin xt.22 wouldn't shoot but about 3" at 25 years when I bought it. Action screws were hand tight. I tighten them up problem solved.

When he outgrew the youth stock and I put it into the adult stock I had ordered i didnt know where my fat wrench was and just made them as tight as I could. Big mistake.

The gun had 2 scres one in the receiver another that was in the barrel in a dove tail like the sights sit into. I pulled the lug through the dove tail.

To fix it I cleaned it up with a file and went to my cousins and tig welded it back on.