Gunsmithing Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

[JRWALLSIII]

Wanted to get some input on the diffrent bedding techniques in regards to the recoil lug.

First off let me say that I have shot rifles from quite a few of the gunsmiths that are active on the hide. ALL of the rifles have shot great!! All have slightly diffrent techniques on the way they bed around the recoil lug. Why?

Some smiths bed just the action side and bottom
of the lug

Some bed the entire lug and a few inches under the barrel.
I have seen this done two ways.

One is a extremely tight fit around the lug
The other is a loose fit around the lug

Why?

And why is one better than the other?

IMO some smiths put out bedding jobs that look fantastic. Others look a little sloppy. But they have all shot great.

 

[Clark]

Re: Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

In a morass of partially cancelling errors affecting accuracy, the improvement from bedding is usually too small to measure.

And if it is so hard to measure the improvement of bedding, it is even harder to measure the difference in improvement between different bedding rituals.

So with nothing real on which to base decisions, expect the bedding ritual to evolve in the direction of looking good.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

Cause people are different, and like to be.


I feel the bottom and sides of the lug should be relieved.
The front and back I make touch.

 

[customshooter]

Re: Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

unless shooting with a HEAVY blank like 30 inches, bed entire lug and completely float the barrel...

 

[nashlaw]

Re: Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

From Clark:

"In a morass of partially cancelling errors affecting accuracy, the improvement from bedding is usually too small to measure."

I could not agree more. I have shot .5moa with rifles that were unbedded; rifles that were put in a stock bedded for another rifle; rifles that were full length bedded; etc.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Diffrent bedding techinques..... Why

The tightest groups from an unbedded rifle may match those from a bedded rifle, but I dont think it will be as rock solid consistant.
Ive seen it in an unbedded rifle I shot with for two years, then bedded it and shot it for another year bedded. Accuracy didnt improve but consistancies did improve.