Bell and Carlson Stock Issues

[henryfrank333]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a B&C Light Tac for my Rem 700 SPS Tactical (.308 20 in bull barrel w/ 1 in 10 twist) and have had an awful day trying to get it to print tight groups. At best it was doing 2" (and a few 3-4") with 168 gr. Federal Gold Medal Match and appears to be doing worse than the original hogue stock.

Before torquing the gun down to 65 in-lbs, I noticed that with the action in, I could rock the action like a seesaw when it was set in place (without the internal mag in). I don't know if that is supposed to be able to happen, but it seemed very suspicious.

Once I started shooting, the groups opened up horribly when the barrel heated up (and I don't mean too hot to touch, but just warm). After 3-4 shots from a cold barrel the bullets were just going inches in the wrong directions.

I also tried some 175 gr. 7.62X51 Federal Gold Medal Match, but those weren't any better than the 168 gr.

I am so discouraged at this point and don't even know where to start. The gun has never shot sub-moa for me so I don't know if it is a problem with the stock, with the bolt, with the ammo, with me, and all the trips I take to the range that I intend to be fun only upset me.

How do I diagnose the problems and how do I fix them?

I am aware that I should bed the stock and I really want to, but I don't have any option to do it where I live and bedding jobs seem to cost over $100 dollars everywhere in Houston. Any thoughts?

 

[steveptr]

Is the barrel free floating? Up here in Wa it cost me 125 to have mine bedded. I say do it.

 

[stangguyaz]

If you can rock your action in your stock like you say than you are probably torquing your action causing issues. is your barrel free floated? I have not found many guns that will shoot that well without being bedded or in a chassis. What I did after I bought my B&C was take my factory stock that came on my spss and practiced bedding it it only costs a few dollars in materials and a few hours prep time. My first job was horrible looking but it out shot the Bell and Carlson before I bedded it and I learned a lot?Use your factory stock and bed it free float the barrel and see if it shoots. One last question and don't take it the wrong way but have you ever shot sub Moa with a rifle before? If not find someone you know that has a rifle that is capable in there hands and shoot it. A lot of people think it real easy just sit down aim and pull the trigger there's much more to it than that.

What optic are you running do you have a rifle that you know shoots that you can test it on?

 

[henryfrank333]

The barrel is completely free floated. I made sure before taking it out to shoot.

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it and I don't take offense to it at all. I am a relatively new shooter and this is the first rifle I have ever had that should be capable of sub-moa accuracy. I don't think that I am the best shot (partly because I am trying to fight a flinch I developed after getting badly socked in the face by my scope), but I am pretty confident that I am not the most at fault in this situation. At worst, I feel I contributed 0.5 moa to the accuracy issue.

I would really love somebody experienced to shoot a group with it and tell me, but I don't know anyone like that unfortunately. I got into this hobby on my own and haven't really had anyone I could turn to for advice unfortunately which is why I always post on the forums here when I have an issue.

I would also really love to bed it and practice doing what you suggested (great idea, btw), but like I said, I can't bed it where I live at all and don't know where else I could and this is the only rifle that would be capable of it.

Gun Specs:
Rem 700 SPS Tac AAC-SD
SWFA SS 12X42 mil-mil
Nightforce 20 MOA Rail
IOR Valdada Low Rings
B&C Light Tactical (no bedding)
Harris Swivel bipod

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Try reducing the torque on the action screws to 55 in/lbs or so, action screws don't have to be 65 in/lbs all the time. When I dropped my AAC into the B&C M40 stock it shot like crap also when I torqued the action screws to 65 in/lbs, but when I reduced it to 57 in/lbs the groups tightened up and it shot a lot better.

 

[jdgray]

B&C leaves the finish fitting for you. I had to make clearance for my trigger group while fitting my Savage . Look for interference in yours ....

 

[thefiremeister]

Read this for starters Stress-Free Pillar Bedding

 

[RobG]

Actually bedding is pretty easy as long as you take your time. There used to be a great thread about it in the Gunsmithing section but I cannot seem to find it now. I found I needed to skim bed/bed lug the two B&C stocks I owned to obtain a good fit and torque.