Are we over thinking this? I keep thinking of the guy in Canada who fitted an alum. block to the barrel, just ahead of the action and then bolted the thing to the stock. Floated barrel and action. http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek075/

I have always installed pillars and bedded the action because I am a little afraid of the notch in the back pillar reducing bearing surface. However if the recoil lug is bedded correctly, would it make any difference? The action screws really don't do anything but keep the stock from falling off, they shouldn't absorb any recoil. I use a 1/2 inch alum. spacer for my pillars and epoxy them into a 5/8 hole, then I bed the action and wind up with 3 or 4 Sq. inches of bearing surface. If I just used the pillars, there would be < 1 sq inch bearing. The recoil lug is supposed to handle the recoil.

What are you guys with "honest" quarter minute guns doing? I am beginning to think the bedding is a waste of time and might even be detrimental.

Ya, I know......way too much free time!

Bill