So... factory rifle (Sav 10BA) that I've had for a while. Long story short, it's one of those guns that's always been a thorn in my side for one reason or another. Last year, after putting a new (NSS/Criterion) pre-fit barrel on it, I realized the scope rail was loose - again. Figured I'd fix that thing, once and for all. Got the JB weld out, and proceeded to (intentionally) permanently bed the rail (Farrell steel 20 moa) to the receiver. Cleaned it up, and let it sit to cure. Later, I was a little afraid that I maybe didn't get enough release agent on the screw threads and/or in the holes in the receiver, because I couldn't loosen the screws. Ah, well. The damned thing was glued down tight, done.
Except... the gun continued to disappoint. Couldn't find a load that worked. Imagine if you will, a 20" .308 Win that doesn't appear to like Berger 175 BTs, IMR 4064, Lapua brass or 210M primers - might break 1 moa on a good day. Weird, right? Checked action screws, swapped scopes, etc. Nada. Out of desperation, I tried some FGMM S175MK factory ammo. A *little* better, maybe. Borrowed a different chassis from a friend, and tried it again with some Berger factory 185 OTM ammo. First group was good, easy half moa. And it went downhill from there. 1.25-1.75 moa, two-group, shotgun pattern, stringing, etc.
Got it home, debating WTF to try next. Took the scope off, put it on the shelf. Took the chassis off to take back to it's owner. On a whim, I grabbed a torx key, and tried the rail screws. I mean, it sure *shot* like something was loose. And... while none of the screws were exactly 'loose', they sure as $hit weren't what I'd call tight, either. And they *all* came out, vs. before when two of them wouldn't turn at all. The rail was still on there, wouldn't come off with finger / hand pressure. Grabbed a small 8 oz ball peen and tapped the back of the rail and... it slid right off.
So now I've got a receiver with JB Weld residue on top, and a steel scope rail with JB Weld residue on the bottom, and no bleedin' idea how in the flying f$ck that joint came loose like that. The gun was either in the safe (most of the time) or in a case to and from the range. It wasn't exactly left out exposed to hot/cold or chemicals or anything that should have loosened the bond.
I guess my questions are a) best way to remove the remaining residue without (further) damaging anything, and b) ideas as to what might have gone wrong with the previous bedding attempt that it failed like this? Bad batch, bad mix, something else?
Except... the gun continued to disappoint. Couldn't find a load that worked. Imagine if you will, a 20" .308 Win that doesn't appear to like Berger 175 BTs, IMR 4064, Lapua brass or 210M primers - might break 1 moa on a good day. Weird, right? Checked action screws, swapped scopes, etc. Nada. Out of desperation, I tried some FGMM S175MK factory ammo. A *little* better, maybe. Borrowed a different chassis from a friend, and tried it again with some Berger factory 185 OTM ammo. First group was good, easy half moa. And it went downhill from there. 1.25-1.75 moa, two-group, shotgun pattern, stringing, etc.
Got it home, debating WTF to try next. Took the scope off, put it on the shelf. Took the chassis off to take back to it's owner. On a whim, I grabbed a torx key, and tried the rail screws. I mean, it sure *shot* like something was loose. And... while none of the screws were exactly 'loose', they sure as $hit weren't what I'd call tight, either. And they *all* came out, vs. before when two of them wouldn't turn at all. The rail was still on there, wouldn't come off with finger / hand pressure. Grabbed a small 8 oz ball peen and tapped the back of the rail and... it slid right off.
So now I've got a receiver with JB Weld residue on top, and a steel scope rail with JB Weld residue on the bottom, and no bleedin' idea how in the flying f$ck that joint came loose like that. The gun was either in the safe (most of the time) or in a case to and from the range. It wasn't exactly left out exposed to hot/cold or chemicals or anything that should have loosened the bond.
I guess my questions are a) best way to remove the remaining residue without (further) damaging anything, and b) ideas as to what might have gone wrong with the previous bedding attempt that it failed like this? Bad batch, bad mix, something else?
