Rifle bedding questions

[Outdoorsman]

So ive read a bit about rifle bedding watched a few videos but can any one tell me why or how bedding improves accuracy ive read that it harmonises action and stock taking out any movement between the two but is that it ? Also does it mean then if your rifle is not bedded and you remove the action from the stock then re fit it would it effect accuracy and or zero? Thanks in advance to any rifle buffs 👍

[Dougy]

Bedding a rifle action should give you a perfect fit between stock and action.

If you remove the action therfore when it's replaced you should not have any changes in zero,assuming the action screws are torqued the same.

If you are doing it then go the extra bit and pillar bed as well.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Dougy

[Underdog]

Most the rifles that are troublesome to find a good load for have all been transformed by some measure of bedding improvement in my experience.

Even my humble WMR was transformed when I realised there was a high spot in the stock inletting!

Any vibration, even in the action will be transmitted to the barrel and hinder the barrels harmonics. The action and stock have to have a good bond to be an anchor so the barrel can consisantly vibrate to the shot, repeatedly.

[welshwarrior]

The other two have answered you, however with a wood stock you can with glass and pilar bedding remove the climatic changes as the stock swells and shrinks I the weather.

 

For some a stock is not finished until it's bedded.

[Savhmr]

I've bedded my HMR and the results were worth it. Shoots way more consistently. Basically, bedding ensures consistency and improved accuracy from shot to shot, even if the action is removed and replaced. You should use the same torque setting to screw the action back in each time. For best results, glass or Aluminium bedding works best for wooden (or synthetic) stocks. This is where you prepare the receiving faces of the stock and glass-fibre them to mould exactly to your rifle action or make up aluminium bedding blocks which requires removal of some of the timber. It can help to stiffen the stock a little too. Another worthwhile modification for accuracy is to increase the amount by which your barrel is free floated (in the case of floated barrels). Most have insufficient clearance from the factory, and the old test of running a paper note (fiver or tenner if you're flush!) between barrel and stock really suggests not enough clearance at all. I took the Dremmel to mine (but did the finish using fine finishing paper and a shaped block) and increased the free float gap to 3mm all round. Once the action is back in, even firm pressure on a properly bedded action should result in no movement of the action to the stock although the floated fore end can move with a little flexure. For wooden stocks, it pays to ensure that all surfaces are sealed to minimise warp when humidity changes or when the stocks gets wet as this can change POI too. Many budget stocks don't seal the interior or receiving faces, just the external faces which are normally sprayed with a water based PU coating.

 

Bedding all allows consistency of barrel harmonics from shot to shot = improved accuracy. Mine went from about 1.5 MOA to about 3/4 MOA with just an afternoon's work on the stock. No big deal when hunting, but could be the difference between a V-Bull and Bull on target at 100m to 200m. For longer distance shooting, and for "varmint" shooting where target areas are very small indeed, it is well worth bedding the rifle properly to ensure precision and accuracy are consistent (or as consistent as you, the shooter, are capable of making them). Most rifles can be improved with relatively little work.

Edited September 29, 2015 by Savhmr

[Outdoorsman]

So i guess the next question is, is there any where in the north east that beds rifles and how much does it normally cost

[kent]

It don't always improve a guns accuracy as it isn't always a weak point. What it should do is maintain it day to day

If it's wood expecially natural wood like walnut always have it on pillars it's not doing near as much as it should otherwise

[Dougy]

So i guess the next question is, is there any where in the north east that beds rifles and how much does it normally cost

Cost around 200. Or DIY for about 60.

[Underdog]

Never spent a bean on it. Only ever used shims.

[Dougy]

Never spent a bean on it. Only ever used shims.

I must say UD thats what I did with a HMR I wasn't supposed to be a permanent fix but its been there now for over 10 years.

[Underdog]

I must say UD thats what I did with a HMR I wasn't supposed to be a permanent fix but its been there now for over 10 years.

;-)

[Outdoorsman]

I think ill diy it if a smith charges 200quid might aswell give it ago im pretty confident i could do it, its only on a cz 455

[Dougy]

I think ill diy it if a smith charges 200quid might aswell give it ago im pretty confident i could do it, its only on a cz 455

Remember.

Release agent

Release agent

Release agent lol

 

If is important. And preparing the stock, and before you actually put the 2 parts together get EVERYTHING ready.

[kent]

I think ill diy it if a smith charges 200quid might aswell give it ago im pretty confident i could do it, its only on a cz 455

Not worth it on a rf your unlikely to make much in the way of gains

I think ill diy it if a smith charges 200quid might aswell give it ago im pretty confident i could do it, its only on a cz 455

Not worth it on a rf your unlikely to make much in the way of gains

[Outdoorsman]

Its for my hmr, what happend was i took it out for the 3rd or 4th time the other day and could not hit a barn door with it as apposed to when i zeroed it and it was doing sub 5p groups at 100yards, the only thing that had changed was the fact i had took it out of the stock to dry it after getting a tad soggy one day now it wont even group at 100 it just strings the groups and puts the odd flyer in so on paper 10 shots end up with three nice tight groups one an inch below the next and a couple of wild flyers its crazy

Its one of the thumb hole version and the inlet in the stock is horrible to say the least

[welshwarrior]

I glass bed for £80 and pillars for around £20.

[Dougy]

I glass bed for £80 and pillars for around £20.

Daf,

if outdoorsman can get it to you then he should take up your services. For 100 its worth it.

[Savhmr]

Its for my hmr, what happend was i took it out for the 3rd or 4th time the other day and could not hit a barn door with it as apposed to when i zeroed it and it was doing sub 5p groups at 100yards, the only thing that had changed was the fact i had took it out of the stock to dry it after getting a tad soggy one day now it wont even group at 100 it just strings the groups and puts the odd flyer in so on paper 10 shots end up with three nice tight groups one an inch below the next and a couple of wild flyers its crazy

Its one of the thumb hole version and the inlet in the stock is horrible to say the least

 

What HMR is it? I had the same problem with my Savage. After I did some bedding work it now groups into a 2cm group consistently at 100 yds, so well worth the effort ( it is worth doing for any rifle, including a rimfire).

[Underdog]

Not worth it on a rf your unlikely to make much in the way of gains

 

Not worth it on a rf your unlikely to make much in the way of gains

Mine did!

I only put two plastic bottle shims between stock and action under the two bolts and the difference was amazing!

[Savhmr]

Mine did!

I only put two plastic bottle shims between stock and action under the two bolts and the difference was amazing!

[kent]

Its for my hmr, what happend was i took it out for the 3rd or 4th time the other day and could not hit a barn door with it as apposed to when i zeroed it and it was doing sub 5p groups at 100yards, the only thing that had changed was the fact i had took it out of the stock to dry it after getting a tad soggy one day now it wont even group at 100 it just strings the groups and puts the odd flyer in so on paper 10 shots end up with three nice tight groups one an inch below the next and a couple of wild flyers its crazy

Its one of the thumb hole version and the inlet in the stock is horrible to say the least

Yes I have seen this in the model. You cannot cure bad inletting with bedding in most instances though it can "sometimes" help the issue is best addressed directly with checking out what and were the inlet is bad

[Outdoorsman]

Sav its a cz 455 thumb hole varmit .17hmr, like i say within the first 30 shots out of the box it was doing groups smaller than a 5pence piece if i knew how to upload photos from my iphone i would post them they were beautiful groups but now its horrible litrally the only thing thats change is the fact i removed it from the stock thats all it can be 😢

[boo]

Before bedding try a few different brands of ammo, be surprised at that.

[Dougy]

If it's a barrel floating issue you can check by simply placing shims under the front action bolt. That will slightly lift the barrel and action out of the stock.

[Underdog]

Sav its a cz 455 thumb hole varmit .17hmr, like i say within the first 30 shots out of the box it was doing groups smaller than a 5pence piece if i knew how to upload photos from my iphone i would post them they were beautiful groups but now its horrible litrally the only thing thats change is the fact i removed it from the stock thats all it can be 😢

Did you tighten it down by the two screws evenly?

If so then it is feasible that the wet has swollen the stock causing a high spot.

If you banged just one screw up first you should undo them put the butt down and screw the two screws evenly.

As you tighten you may be able to detect a high spot by a rocking action on it!

 

U.

Edited September 29, 2015 by Underdog