Torque wrenches for guns are something that is a must for gunsmiths and even for many normal gun owners.
If you already know you need a torque wrench then take a look at our recommendations for the best torque wrench for gunsmithing.
Guns have a lot of small fasteners that should be torqued to exact specifications for maximum performance of the firearm.
In the past only the most dedicated gunsmiths and owners were even aware there were torque specifications for their firearms.
Probably the first gun parts where people were aware of torque specifications being available and important is rifle scopes.
Every component of a rifle scope from the base to the ring mounts should be torqued to the recommended manufacturer specifications for the best performance of the scope.
These torque specifications for scopes are so important that some scope manufacturers even post the recommended torque specifications directly on the components themselves.
Why is it Important?
As you can imagine, the fasteners for scopes and many other gun parts are small, and this means tightening those fasteners to the proper torque is extremely important.
These small fasteners are easier to over tighten and are less forgiving when over tightened than larger fasteners are.
Either under tightening or over tightening these small fasteners can cause problems. For scopes the actual accuracy of the scope can be affected by improper fastener torque.
Improper fastener torque can also cause other more general problems.
Under Tightening
The obvious problem that can arise from the under tightening fasteners on your gun is those fasteners can become loose and even back out completely. This can cause gun components to work improperly as you can imagine.
There is another issue under tightening can case as well. When a fastener becomes loose it allows the fastener to move around and can damage the threads since threads are not designed to work that way.
As you can imagine, either of these can negatively affect the performance of the firearm. They can also be costly or almost impossible to repair cost effectively.
Over Tightening
Just like under tightening fasteners on your gun can cause problems, over tightening can also cause its own set of problems.
Probably the most obvious problem over tightening can cause is breaking the fasteners themselves due to placing too much stress on the components.
For bolts and screws it is possible the head can break off or be damaged. The hole it is being inserted into can have its threads stripped by over tightening.
Even if the over tightening of the fastener does not cause any obvious damage there still may be issues in the future.
If the over tightened fastener causes moving parts to have more friction than they should it can also cause premature wear on those parts as well as a general malfunction.
Once a fastener is over tightened it is also more likely to become damaged when trying to remove it later.
Conclusion
I am sure by now you understand why torque wrenches for guns are a very important tool for making sure your firearm is working properly and safely.
Luckily there are torque wrenches made just for guns that make ensuring the proper torque of your gun’s fasteners quick and easy.
See our article on the best torque wrench for gunsmithing for details on the best tool for the job.
