Gunsmithing Do I need to start over?

T

thespecialist

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 26, 2011
498
1
45
Monroe, NC
#1
I bedded my stock last night and popped the action out this morning. This was the first bedding job for me, so you can imagine how good I slept last night. It came out clean, and slick as glass, but it's thin. You can see the holes I drilled in the aluminum block through the bedding. Is this too thin, or am I just being paranoid? The recoil lug area came out good though, I was getting 0 contact on the recoil lug before.



Bedding001.jpg

Bedding002.jpg
 
#2
Re: Do I need to start over?

It may be ok "But" usually the recoil lug is completly incased in bedding compound. Then you put seveal layers of electical tape on the bottom of the recoil lug so it doesn't bottom out when tightened down in the action. Plus a piece of tape on the front of the lug and the sides to give it some clearance to go in and out of the action.
 
#3
Re: Do I need to start over?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: raptor99</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It may be ok "But" <span style="font-weight: bold">usually the recoil lug is completly incased in bedding compound.</span> Then you put seveal layers of electical tape on the bottom of the recoil lug so it doesn't bottom out when tightened down in the action. Plus <span style="font-weight: bold">a piece of tape on the front of the lug and the sides to give it some clearance to go in and out of the action.</span> </div></div>
When I bedded mine I also bedded the barrel channel so the lug is encased as you describe.

How important is the contact, or lack of contact, on the sides and the front of the recoil lug?

I didn't tape anything, but I did polish the lug and it slips in and out of the stock with perceptible, but nowhere near difficult friction.
 
#4
Re: Do I need to start over?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: raptor99</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It may be ok "But" usually the recoil lug is completly incased in bedding compound. Then you put seveal layers of electical tape on the bottom of the recoil lug so it doesn't bottom out when tightened down in the action. Plus a piece of tape on the front of the lug and the sides to give it some clearance to go in and out of the action. </div></div>


I may go back and do that later, I was just trying to keep my chances of locking my action in to a minimum. That's why I only bedded the rear of the lug area. My biggest problem before was the back of the recoil lug wasn't contacting the bedding block at all.

I'm just not sure about how thin it came out under the tang and the front of the receiver. It has a good bond, it's not going to pop loose. I'm just concerned as to whether or not it's going to crack the bedding when I torque the action screws down. I'm a FNG when it comes to action bedding.
 
#7
Re: Do I need to start over?

Torqued the action down, no cracks. Hopefully it hold up to the abuse it's about to receive
grin.gif
The rifle shot great before, .5-.6 MOA reliably and dipping into .4 MOA on rare occasions. The lack of contact behind the recoil lug was just bugging me.

Thanks for the help.
 
#8
Re: Do I need to start over?

one thing, i did mine along the sides. if you look at the threads, most people totally coat the action along the sides and fill the channel with epoxy. it should squeeze out when the action is pressed down in the stock
 
#9
Re: Do I need to start over?

I don't think it being thin should be a problem. What matters is that there is full contact between the action and the bedding so that it has full support. As for the recoil lug, all that really matters there is that the back side is fully supported. You don't want the bottom or sides of the lug touching anything. From looking at the pictures I'd say it should be just fine. Like SingleShot85 said, torque it down (I'd say about 45 or 50 ft lbs) and see how it holds up. If it shoots well, it shoots well.
 
#10
Re: Do I need to start over?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: corn_dork</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think it being thin should be a problem. What matters is that there is full contact between the action and the bedding so that it has full support. As for the recoil lug, all that really matters there is that the back side is fully supported. You don't want the bottom or sides of the lug touching anything. From looking at the pictures I'd say it should be just fine. Like SingleShot85 said, torque it down (I'd say about 45 or 50 ft lbs) and see how it holds up. If it shoots well, it shoots well. </div></div>

I full bed the lug, bottom, sides, and all....and on purpose.

What's more important above all else is an absolute stress free bedding job.......
 
#11
Re: Do I need to start over?

Yeah, if you torqued down the screws when you bedded it, it probably isn't stress free. Best is to tighten the front screw like a sissy, and finger tighten the rear one. Or, just finger tighten the screws, and wrap the action with electrical tape to even out the pressure, without bending the action or stock while the epoxy cures. I wrap the screws with teflon plumbers tape, to center the screws in the stock holes, and unwrap the tape after setting. You don't want contact with the stock on the sides of the screws. Bad vibes, mon.
 
#12
Re: Do I need to start over?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xs hedspace</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah, if you <span style="font-weight: bold">torqued down the screws when you bedded it</span>, it probably isn't stress free. Best is to tighten the front screw like a sissy, and finger tighten the rear one. Or, just finger tighten the screws, and wrap the action with electrical tape to even out the pressure, without bending the action or stock while the epoxy cures. I wrap the screws with teflon plumbers tape, to center the screws in the stock holes, and unwrap the tape after setting. You don't want contact with the stock on the sides of the screws. Bad vibes, mon. </div></div>

I'm a newbe at doing bedding, but I know better than doing that
laugh.gif
I just set the action into the bedding with the barrel wrapped in tape to center it in the stock and keep the rear tang from popping up. It surprised the hell out of me when I popped it out and it was that thin.


Thanks for the input guys.
 
#13
Re: Do I need to start over?

If it stays put, go shoot it and see.


They need to come out thicker than that. HS stocks normally get a pretty thick layer. But if it shoots good and doesnt chip out, thats what matters.

If you used the action screws to hold it in place thats not good though. It wont be stress free if those action screws were tight during set up. Maybe better than before though. And like you said, at least you have lug contact now.
 
#14
Re: Do I need to start over?

i just thought of this. its bedding. like a bed for the action. if you dont cradle it on the sides, its like sleeping on a rail. is there a gap on the sides at all? mine was an HS and i fully supported it

5119000338_27e266269a_b.jpg


5118398075_79e39d3208_b.jpg


using a nice thick layer allowed me to raise the action in the stock so the ejection port was level with the stocks line as well. i did as all the others did. tape donuts on the barrel and lots of test fitting to get it to sit right. then after 6 coats of wax, and a few test batches of JBWeld, i started in. i even had a small part blow out and i repaired it easily. i drilled the block and the sides and everything and then used a tooth pick to get the epoxy into the holes. slap it in and start drinking shots and praying, lol.
 
#16
Re: Do I need to start over?

clean out the holes. mix a decent batch and look how wnroscoe does it. he puts the stuff on the action as well as in the channel and mushes it all together. drill holes on the side too. i drilled the aluminum block and the side of the stock all along the thin part above the block. tape the front and sides of the lug. wax the back. go an inch in front of the lug recess. look at a few photos in the bedding thread thats pinned in this section
 
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