When I took possession of the D Binger HW, the stock was loose and there was a considerable gap between the wood and action. 

When taking it apart at home I removed the butt plate first. Years ago I broke a tang screw on a Meacham HW that had a through bolt installed. Sure enough there was a through bolt in this rifle. The nut on the 3/8 threads was missing. I'm assuming someone made the same mistake I made since the rifle had a brand new tang screw in it. A socket would not fit in the hole at the butt of the stock so I turned the threaded end down to 1/4 which allows a socket to fit. Everything fits as it should now.

When taking any HW apart start with the butt plate. It could have a surprise awating you.

Remember to start with the butt plate Jack and you'll be safe.

Jose Cigarless

Dick Binger did the through bolt. Winchester 1885s did not come from the factory with them.

Yes, it pulls on the tang screw. I broke the tang screw in half on the Meacham. Amazing thing is I didn't bugger the screw slot. It was a good screw slot screwdriver day.

All my through bolts have different configurations. One is like Joe’s with a hole in the end for the tang screw to go through. Over tightening the through bolt can bend the tang screw. A couple of others have square steel bars with a hole for the tang screw and enough wood removed to allow the bar to be inserted. The through bold screws into the bar. The most radical one has a steel bar welded to the lower tang that is quite beefy. The upper tang screw is a 1/4x24 screw that is about an inch long that screws into the top of the bar. I have two of those screws one for a tang sight and one with a larger head for when I don’t mount a tang sight. That one is the most capable one but if I am not mistaken, you have to remove the lower tang screws and slide the tang out with the stock. It is my opinion that having a through bolt helps with accuracy. 

Jack

I had but one with a thru bolt and it was out for rethreading to a more common size than when acquired. Put the rifle back as it was from the factory and went to shoot it. Seemed fine and now I cannot recall if I ever did put the bolt back. If the stock fits well the factory screws hold up nicely for most use I think. If you pack it in s saddle sheath or hunt in real rough country, the bolt would be good insurance. Otherwise................?

Here is the one that you can tighten well.   

You have to remove the tang along with the stick then it drops free. I rarely take the stock off.

When I get a chance today I will post a picture of the stock itself (not the channel). It had a large drop and a patchwork job in the cheek area. That will scare you even more. 

Jack