First bedding job is complete!!

Thanks to all that gave me input on my first bedding job. This is a rifle I am building for my 10 yr old as first his centerfire. Will be a 223 with a factory sporter barrel shortened to 19". Action is a Savage LA that Fred did a T&T on. I actually used this with my first 30BR for a couple of years. I found this old maple youth stock for it from a forum member. It is an NRA stock. My son has been working hand in hand through it all. Setting the pillars was actually the hard part for me. Actually drilling out the hole for the pillars and being sure of the alignment. No big voids in the bedding. Actually looks pretty darn smooth.

My gunsmith that usually does my stock work would mount the stock in a vise and tighten the action screws. He would put a dial indicator on the end of the barrel and slow back out the rear action screw then the front and look for movement on the end of the barrel. This one didn't move more than a few thousands with the screws loosened.

Pleased over all. We will swap boltheads, headspace the barrel, and let him try a few reloads this weekend if the weather holds. I have a 3-9x 4200 Elite still in the box for him.

For those considering it, it wasn't too bad. It would have been a breeze if the stock already had pillars installed.

Thanks again, Tim

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1afef3f7.jpg
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That looks pretty darned good to me!!

And now it starts:
You will be looking for rifles to bed LOL
Looks great, I hope you and your son have a great time shooting it for many years

Jack

Can I ask why 19" and not 20"?

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Originally Posted by TraverseSavage

Can I ask why 19" and not 20"?

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Just trying to get the best balance and not have something that is front heavy. I want to go to 18". The gunsmith chopping off the barrel suggested 20". 19" was our compromise. Balance is the critical thing I wanted for him. Velocity isn't that big of an issue. The other factor was pure mental/money to me. I couldn't just pay $50 to cut off 2" from a 22" sporter. However take off 50% more with 3" make it a worth while endeavor..... :)

tim

The other factor was pure mental/money to me. I couldn't just $50 to cut off 2" from a 22" sporter. However take off 50% more with 3" make it a worth while endeavor..... :)

Tim, I like the way you think!

Very respectable job.

Now refinish that stock.

Larry
Tinkerer

Looks great to me.

you have to know that an 10year old would really love to have that camo-ed!
doing the paint process is a snap compared to the bedding job.
enjoy and have fun!

Nice job!!! Your patience paid huge dividends on that bedding job. Now, how is your son's patience about going out and trying ''his'' new rifle. Take care, John.

Let's see...green Play-doh huh? LOL That stuff is great to use. Great job! And as others have already mentioned...I like the way you think, also. Your son will have a great shooter. Enjoy.

Did you have to relieve any material from around the action to give the devcon some depth? I've got a 12 LRP in a HS stock with a bedding block and i'm looking to skim bed it and was curious if I need to go in with a dremel and take out material first.

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Originally Posted by david8989

Did you have to relieve any material from around the action to give the devcon some depth? I've got a 12 LRP in a HS stock with a bedding block and i'm looking to skim bed it and was curious if I need to go in with a dremel and take out material first.

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With the wood stock - no I did not. When I have had my other H&S stocks with a bedding blocks (M700s) bedded, the gunsmith to a dermel tool and cut out the high spots to allow the bedding to have a smooth consistent finish. I watched have do it. It was a minimum amount of material removed. This was done by Dean Arnold who ran the gunsmith program at Murray State College for years and taught the NRA short-course on bedding for accuracy for +20 years. He also trained military armorers on how to properly bed the M24s. I remember his telling a story of testing the bedding strength of rifles by dropping them from a Huey at 500 ft. Bedding held up. The rest of the rifle didn't fair well.

Luck, Tim

Well that answers my question perfectly. Thank you.