I'm wanting to glass bed the stock of my Howa Mini Action. Is there any good brands out there or are they all the same?
Any methods that work the best?
Thank you for your time. -Austin.
I'll answer this but it will require you to do some homework. My intent here is to focus more on procedure than getting stuck in the mud of debating one product vs another.
Bedding, first what is it and what kind of environment is it supposed to live in? It's little more than a casting of the receiver precise enough to mitigate unwanted distortion and/or movement. The environment is whatever nature can throw at it along with shock, compression, and chemical exposure.
So there you have the answer. You need a resin system with a high shore hardness, strong tolerance to prolonged exposure to petroleum products, acids, and alkalies, along with a low percentage of shrinkage.
Other things to consider:
I like a resin system with a long open clamp work time. Rushing and bedding seldom go together. It should also have a high percentage of solids in the mix because that is what actually does the work. The "glue" is merely the binder. Much like cement vs concrete. I personally don't care for products that use a ferrous metal only because I'm paranoid about corrosion. It would suck to have a bedding job rust away although I've never personally seen that.
Things I avoid: Nylon. Nylon is hygroscopic (attracts moisture) and that is never good for a firearm. Acraglass gel is full of the stuff. For me, that's a deal-breaker.
Hope this helps.
C.