Re: Bedding an AICS? Hmmmmm?
I come from a br and long range target background and i have an aics. I was always taught that if there is stress in the action it is not good . Does this mean it won't shoot good, no. Does a stress free action have the potential to shoot better then one that is stressed, yes. Shooting of a bipod in field conditions probably would not show the difference between the two. The way to see if the action is under stress is real simple, torque both action screws and lock barrel in padded vice parralel the ground. Pay attention to the barrel/forend gap as one screw is backed off . If nothing happens retorque it and loosen the other and see what happens. If there is no movement ur gtg, if there is the action is under stress . Witg my aics and Remington the barrel would raise 3/8" up in the barrel channel when the front action screw was backed off. In fact the stock would pull away from the barrel the whole time the screw was being turned out. The aics rear v does not support the rear tang behind the rear action bolt. This is what causes the stress . I bedded the rear tang area on mine and now there is no stress . I did not shoot it before bedding, when i see that kind of stress induced i instantly bed the stock. Some smith's bed aics some don't. If ur smith built the rifle i would trust his opinion to bed the stock. I beleive laprecision, gap, and several others bed the rear tang on aics builds. Before i bedded mine i did research bedding it and some people would say in the same breath" stress is bad but don't worry about stress if it is in an aics". Ur rifle and all but if u trust the smith to build it trust his opinion to bed it. I do see no need of bedding the front v or lug area if a trued action and recoil lug is used.
