Gunsmithing Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

[slivoman]

Guys, I need some guidance. I wanted to get a new chassis for my 5R in .308, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Especially since the one I really want is over $1200. I need to send out my rifle so I can get it threaded so i can mount a muzzle brake. I really want to be able to see my hits with the scope at 600 yards, main reason for the brake.

So here is my question, since it came with the V-Block HS stock, will I see any improvement in bedding the action on this stock? Will it be worth the $200 or so dollars to get it done? I eventually want to get the chassis, but that might not happen until next year, so I wonder if I should even bother.

Also, I'd like to go local on the work if I can, anyone know of a good smith within a hour or two of Chicago? Any suggestions are always welcome.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

How does it currently shoot?

If it shoots consistently around 1/2moa with match ammo, then I would leave it alone.

 

[JB02]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Save your money for the chassis.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How does it currently shoot?

If it shoots consistently around 1/2moa with match ammo, then I would leave it alone.

</div></div>

This is a good answer, if you put the same amount of money into tuning handload, you would likely improve more than anything else you could do, other than work on your own skill sets.

I have not seen many ( any ) of these 5R's that didn't shoot well. The few I have played with, all shot better with some load tuning, and seating depth tweaks.

 

[z28kid]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

You could skim bed it yourself for about 50 dollars.

If you are not reloading now, like mentioned above, you should get started in that if at all possible.

With good technique you should be able to spot your hits at less than 600 with out a brake.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Don't waste the money on having the H-S bedded. It will be marginal at best. If its shooting well, throw that $200 into the "chassis fund" jar.

 

[slivoman]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking. The rifle shoots better than me. My best group was just under 1/2 MOA with 5 shots, but i seem to always pull 1 or 2

I keep thinking about reloading, but that's going to cost some cash as well. I have nothing for it, and no one I know currently reloads. I wouldn't feel comfortable unless I took some basic classes first. Since I live 12 miles from Chicago, anything gun related around here is worse than having sex with the farm animals. I really need to leave this state.

 

[smschulz]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

If I had kept my factory stock from my 5R I would have bedded it.
Instead I sold it and inserted it into an AICS.
I never would have paid $200 to do it - I would have just did it myself.
YMMV

 

[jbell]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

The best way to answer this question is to test fit of the action into the bedding block. You can do this by holding the rifle almost vertical (muzzle down by a few degrees, stock on the bottom). Install a dial indicator on the stock with a magnetic base on the barrel and zero. Then loosen the forward action screw and retighten whial watching the indicator, repeat with the rear screw (you should always have 1 screw tight when doing this). If the indicator has very little movement (just a few thousandths) then your bedding is ok and does not need to be altered. If you get a large readout then the action is being stressed hard when the screws are tightned. If you dont have a dial indicator and a magnetic base you can do the same thing by just very lightly hold your finger at the end of the stock. Have you finger slightly resting on the stock and barrel at the same time and feel for movement. If you can definately feel the barrel moving when eighter screw is loosened and retightned then you have a problem.

Now this addresses any stress that may be put on the action by the bedding but dosent address the ammount of contact surface you have. You can easily check this at home too. Get some prussin blue and apply a very thin coat to the action, or the bedding block (your choice, but I like to put it on the bedding block). Then install the action (very carefully as to not hit the block and disturb the ink) and snug up the screws. Remove the action (again being careful not to disrupt the ink). Inspect the bedding block.You should see two perpindicular points of contact one on each side of the block. They should be even in length and area. Also look at the tang area and see what you hve there, this will be hit or miss for contact area and is usually where the problem is.

The HS stocks and most all other chassis style bedding blocks work on the basis of a vee block with a round action. So your contact are is very minimal but if it is made correctly then it can provide a very good bedding surface for a "generic bed". Also a side note if you do bed a HS stock it will void your warranty, FYI. I hope this helps, but if it were me just save your $ and buy the stock you want and have it properly bedded.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

I have skim bedded several B&C and H.S. Precision stocks with the aluminum block. In every case they have shot better, between .1-.3 moa depending. The biggest difference is those unexplained fliers, now if I have them I now it IS shooter induced. In every case the consistency of the rifle has improved.

I did my own work following examples in this section and have somewhere around 14 bedding jobs under my belt now. It is not that difficult but it is time consuming, I would say do it yourself unless your time is more valuable than your cash.

 

[Graham]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

A muzzle brake won't help you properly spot your shots with a .308.

 

[slivoman]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A muzzle brake won't help you properly spot your shots with a .308. </div></div>

I shoot my buddy's Savage that has a Ratworx brake on it, I can watch my hits at 100 yards with it. We have similar setups except for his being braked and being a Savage. It feels like a 22 honestly, but then again that brake he has is HUGE.

So I know it will do what I want it to do.

 

[slivoman]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have skim bedded several B&C and H.S. Precision stocks with the aluminum block. In every case they have shot better, between .1-.3 moa depending. The biggest difference is those unexplained fliers, now if I have them I now it IS shooter induced. In every case the consistency of the rifle has improved.

I did my own work following examples in this section and have somewhere around 14 bedding jobs under my belt now. It is not that difficult but it is time consuming, I would say do it yourself unless your time is more valuable than your cash. </div></div>

I may just have to do it myself. I just bought a Boyds tacticool stock for my 10/22. If I have too much slop in it, I might just bed both at the same time.

Do you recommend Devcon or something else? I'd like to use the same for both stocks.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: slivoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you recommend Devcon or something else? I'd like to use the same for both stocks.</div></div>

Devcon all the way... I haven't tried anything else.

 

[9sigman45]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Use the $200 to buy a new trigger (if you're still running the factory piece). That should provide more accuracy improvement that bedding your stock.

 

[jbell]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Devcon 10110 works very well, however I can get very good results with Marine Tex grey. I use it in 2100 lbft torque diesel engines and have torn them down years later and its still there good as new. I have done many a stocks with it as well and have had equally as good results. The Marine Tex is easier for me to get.

With what ever you use just watch for air pockets. The best way to prevent it is to mix it well then spread it thin and then scrape it up in 1 scoop and work it into the stock. Kinda forcing all the air out of the compound.

 

[slivoman]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Well my Timney 512 came in today. So that will get installed over the weekend. As far as bedding, I'm going to wait and see how the Ruger fits in the new stock, if its really bad, I'll bed that, and probably just skim bed the Remington, otherwise I won't do anything else to the Remington until I send it out to get the brake installed.

Which will be easier to sand/remove once dried...the devcon or marine tex? I'm sure I'll make a mess the first time.

 

[lanwickum]

Re: Remington 5R..Will Bedding make a HUGE difference?

Skin bed it with devcon and have the muzzle threaded like you want. Make sure they redo the crown. The crown is very important. Shouldn't be more than $50 to skin bed yourself, not hard. Wouldn't think more than $150 to thread and crown then you'll have to buy the brake. Have the brake before it is threaded and the smith should be able to time it for you if needed so you don't need to shim it.