Dutch M95 Mannlicher turnbolt is 8 inches betw front and rear guard screws. If I get a chance to dig out my Romanian action sporter, I'll check that also.
BTW, the M88 sporters I own do have the front guard screw engage the action, that includes the ones I wish I still had. The up front barrel wedge being an extra securing point. Perhaps some sporter variations were built were a take-down system was employed that made use of a blind front guard screw.