rifle cleaning question

[uplandhunter870]

this might be a dumb question but if i were to take the stock off of the barrel and action to do a really thorough cleaning would the rifle keep its zero or would i have to resight due to a new amount of torque on the screws?

thanks
uplander

[JimmyHoffa]

It depends on the rifle.  Some are made to be disassembled and hold the zero.  I've had bolt action, wood stocked rifles that would lose the zero if anything was adjusted much (including things like tightening scope rings to the bases).

[sakoshooter]

All my larger cal rifles are glass bedded so when I take em apart for whatever reason, they go back together pretty much exactly the same and 'zero' stays pretty constant. Screws need to be tightened evenly of course and I usually do the final tightening to the tang screw first.
Even with a non bedded barreled action gun, zero shouldn't change too much. Yes, it could change enough to miss a long shot on a deer but any rifle should have it's zero checked prior to hunting.
In other words, if you want to give your rifle a good cleaning and oiling, go for it.

[Bob33]

Dont count on it holding its zero.  That's no excuse for not taking it apart, however.  You should always check a gun's zero before hunting whether it's been apart or now.

[uplandhunter870]

thats for the input guys.  i shoot my hunting rifles year round and always make sure they are on before a hunt.  i dont really have a place to sight in where im living now so i may post pone the deep clean until i have ready access to a shooting range.

thanks again
uplander

[littletoes]

I tear mine apart after every hunting season, for just that reason. There will be pine needles, and debri under there that might hold moisture, and I don't want that in there.

Just be careful to not over torque it, and your zero should hold.

Hence the reason we have torque specs on so many rifles. They return to zero that way.

[Bofire]

 :)Take a pencil and mark the screws before you touch them, tighten them back to the same spot.
Carl

[HunterJim]

Even if a rifle is designed to hold zero when disassembled from the stock, or the rifle has any type of work done to it, I don't know why anyone would want to trust the zero without checking first.  Seems like an irresponsible thing to do if you make changes then go out hunting.

[littletoes]

I don't think ANYONE suggested NOT rechecking zero after pulling the stock.....