I use washers on my action screws with the BTV stock because the material that holds the screws is too weak. Essentially I pillar bedded the action using the right washers and a sleeve with a flat flange on it. It made the stock far stronger and able to take a lot more pressure. 15 in./lbs. is all Savage suggests with that stock because any more will break or compress the wood. Now I go up to 20 in./lbs.. I could probably go higher but that's enough to keep the action screws from backing off. I don't want to risk crushing the wood though.

The point I'm trying to make is that a lot of rifles can be improved with washers in the right place on the action screws. Savages seem to need them more than other rifles I've seen.