Tikka 223Rem Action Screws

[Late_Starter]

I have a Tikka 223Rem light stainless steel barrel with a polymer stock. It has about 350-400 rounds through it. Earlier this week it badly lost accuracy, shooting one foot to the right at 70 metres. I found that the rear action screw had come loose. I have re-tensioned both to 30 inch pounds with a torque wrench.
My questions are:
1. How often should I re-tension the action screws?
2. Does re-tensioning the action screws require a trip to the range to recheck zero?

The action screw coming loose cost me four foxes at about 50m - 70m. I do not want to repeat this. I always clean my rifle after every time I shoot and was thinking of checking the action screws then as I have all of the tools out.

[animalpest]

If the action screws are tight, your zero shouldn't change. I check mine on my Tikkas fairly frequently and never rezero if tight.

If the action is set back in the same spot then it also should be fine. Tikkas can have accuracy issues if not set on the bedding block correctly.

[bigrich]

I have a Tikka 223Rem light stainless steel barrel with a polymer stock. It has about 350-400 rounds through it. Earlier this week it badly lost accuracy, shooting one foot to the right at 70 metres. I found that the rear action screw had come loose. I have re-tensioned both to 30 inch pounds with a torque wrench.
My questions are:
1. How often should I re-tension the action screws?
2. Does re-tensioning the action screws require a trip to the range to recheck zero?

The action screw coming loose cost me four foxes at about 50m - 70m. I do not want to repeat this. I always clean my rifle after every time I shoot and was thinking of checking the action screws then as I have all of the tools out.

i use 40 lb per inch in my tikka factory synthetic, and my bell and carlson tikka stocks . never had action screws come lose or poi impact change . 30 inch pounds is what i use on pillar bedded wood stocks , on raw timber sticks i usually use 25-27 on the front, and 22 on the rear action screws . hope this helps . cheers

[Late_Starter]

Thanks AP and bigrich for your responses. I will give them a little bit more torque. I have put alloy pillars in my Tikka 7mm-08 I might do the same to the 223 if I get any more problems. Up to this point this rifle has shot well and I don't want to stuff around with something that is working.