Wiley
Well-Known Member
The 541 series began production with a single action screw that held the stock to the barreled action. This screw is the forward most screw in the bottom metal. The S rifles never changed this but I've read that the T version added a 2nd action screw late in production. I have not verified this BUT I do know that this is a step that the more notable 541 smiths took to enhance action stability and accuracy. I currently have two 541T rifles and one is a single screw and the other has 2 screws. The 2 screw appears to be original as I don't see any tell tale marks on the bottom of the receiver that might be left otherwise. The 2nd screw is larger than the original which is only a small wood screw that holds the bottom metal to the stock. This screw is located just forward of the trigger guard. The larger replacement screw is obvious in the bottom metal of the rifle on the right in my picture and mates with a threaded hole in the bottom of the receiver just as the forward most screw does in each version of the 541.
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