Boyds forend screws?

[claypooldave]

I have a Boyds forend but do not have the two screws. The Thompson Center Screws are too short. I believe the T/C screws are 8-40 thread. Does anyone know where I can get the screws I need? I called Boyds and they were not willing to send screws. I will not deal with them again!

[Mushmouse]

The screws are 10x32. Any hardware store should have some.

[claypooldave]

The screws for my barrel are not 10-32, they are definetly 8-40. I do not know why but T/C uses 3 different size screws on their barrels

[Sunset]

T/C Contender factory forends use 10-32 screws and they ARE available at any ACE Hardware in the country (I use the stainless 10-32 cap screws myself, they look good and work well). T/C Encore factory forends use 8-40 screws and are generally VERY hard to find although you can get some sizes from Brownell's. I keep waiting for someone to have a run of 5,000 made at a screw manufacturer in 1.5" lengths (so they can be cut to any required size). It seems like someone could make some money on that deal. . .maybe I'll have to think about it myself - actually I'm far too lazy to do it.

Whenever I have a custom T/C Encore barrel made, I insist that the 10-32 thread is used so I'm not held hostage by the idiotic 8-40 screws that Thompson Center uses to attach forends. Maybe since Smith & Wesson owns them some of the stupidity (like using 8-40 screws in ANYTHING) in manufacturing will be eliminated. We can only hope. . .

Best Regards,

Sunset

[Hardwood]

I ordered mine from Brownells - I think they came 10 or 12 to a package. I'd stick some in an envelope for you, but I have no idea where I put the spares. Anyway, I ended up re-tapping my 23" 375 JDJ to 10-32. The wimpy 8-40 screws sheared only after a few shots. Home Depot sells an aluminum spacer designed for #10 screws so it's ideally suited for pillar bedding the forend of the Encore. The diameter is smaller than the bedding pillars designed for 700 Rems so it doesn't require you to bore a larger than needed diameter hole in the foreend. I just honed the profile to match the barrel contour, attached the screws w/spacers to the barrel, established the desired standoff with electrical tape, applied the release agent, and expoxied the forend in place just like pillar bedding a 700. I liked this bedding job so well that I ordered another Boyd's varminter forend for my 6.5×444 and re-tapped it to 10-32 as well.

[claypooldave]

Thanks for all of you gents input. I called T/C and they are sending the screws I need. The 8-40's do seem to be a little wimpy. After I check my rifle to be sure it is going to shoot and group like I want, I am going to put standoffs on my barrel and use a larger mounting screw. thanks again.
Dave....