do I epoxy bed it or wait?

[kent]

I'm no expert but if I was personally going through the hassle and expense of a custom build and decided it needed bedding I'd do pillars at the same time then it's done.

 

Pillars are unlikely to add a measurable amount to the accuracy of a laminate stocked 75 used for hunting and like a say a serious pain in the butt to do well on this action. If it was a Remington or clone I should from day 1, if it had a natural wood stock likewise. Unless well fitted Pillars will detract from the accuracy of a rifle by placing uneven stresses on the action. The 75 is a magazine fed rifle at the end of the day and that will be its biggest failing as regards bedding if we are talking bench gun, I suspect we are not

[welshwarrior]

You never know, it might just work!

 

Do you have a serious opinion w.w?

I would bed it and be done it may make no difference what so ever but the mental effect on you may be significant as you know it's not done on a sporting rifle I would just use a bedding compound. A target rifle or long range rifle I would use both and do it from the start so your confident in your rifle.

 

You being confident is key.

[fieldwanderer]

Makes sense to me, thanks.

 

The whole project is for a longer range rifle, so somewhere between hunting and target. The new barrell can only be described as a very heavy match grade lother walther, for obvious reasons, the magazine's staying.

 

Anyway, I heard from joe west earlier and I've got a week and a half to wait yet. Not much really since the "build" started in June. Normally, I'm a very patient person but by god am I sick of waiting! The weather's the biggest concern really, I had hoped for a nice still day for setting everything up but you don't get many of them in autumn.

[kent]

Makes sense to me, thanks.

 

The whole project is for a longer range rifle, so somewhere between hunting and target. The new barrell can only be described as a very heavy match grade lother walther, for obvious reasons, the magazine's staying.

 

Anyway, I heard from joe west earlier and I've got a week and a half to wait yet. Not much really since the "build" started in June. Normally, I'm a very patient person but by god am I sick of waiting! The weather's the biggest concern really, I had hoped for a nice still day for setting everything up but you don't get many of them in autumn.

 

When I mentioned the magazine I was referring to the cut out not if it had a magazine fitted. The cut out will loose you more stiffness in the action and bedding area, than you might gain in accuracy from Pillars. If you fill up to it fit the pillars as Welsh warrior say "confidence is key" but I warn you its a SOB job to do well on a 75.

[fieldwanderer]

 

When I mentioned the magazine I was referring to the cut out not if it had a magazine fitted. The cut out will loose you more stiffness in the action and bedding area, than you might gain in accuracy from Pillars.

 

I know Kent, I was just making the info clear - it's a bit of an unusual rifle I'm building.

 

 

As a side note, any tips with tru-oil? I've not used it before and just want to make sure I do the job efficiently; i.e. as quickly as possible while still doing the best job possible.

[welshwarrior]

 

As a side note, any tips with tru-oil? .

Yes don't use it on guns use a proper stock oil Rapid oil or napier I think are the best commercial stuff. Don't rush a good oil finish takes time.

[fieldwanderer]

Ah carp - bought the wrong stuff then! I assume the same applies considering its a laminate stock?

 

I've made a few knife handles out of dymondwood and have only ever rubbed it down with very fine wet and dry to achieve a satin/gloss finish - the resin gets forced into the wood when it's made so its waterproof anyway. I was guessing this stock would be more or less the same but wanted something just in case it needed it.

[fieldwanderer]

Anyone know of something I can make at home or buy cheaply that I can pour into the stock to fill it instead of using plasticine? non oily, machinable and easily removed - I considered wax but it'll make the wood oily and therefore the epoxy wont stick to it I was looking at the old stock this morning and came to the conclusion that being able to cast something in there would probably be quicker and easier than filling such a big hole and all the little nooks and crannies with plasticine or similar. The idea being to fill the lot before milling away where the action and bedding will go, then when the job's done I just remove the filler leaving the epoxy where it is and all the gaps where they should be - just a thought for now though

[Dougy]

I used clay from a modeling shop. Let it dry and go hard, it's machineable to an extent.

[fieldwanderer]

I've got some of that, I used it on my hmr but found it shrunk a lot and didn't dry very well (only the surface).

 

to be honest, looking at how the stock and action go together, I get the feeling there isn't much to gain from bedding it :wacko:

[kent]

Don't try and re-invent the wheel, relieve the stock then fill voids and action holes with plastiscine