Gunsmithing Re-Bedded Lug Recess, Happy(?) Ending--Pics

[RmeJu]

Per my previous posts, I had (what I think was) a decent first try to bed my stock, except that the lug recess area was a mess. I have since tried again, with the before & after posted below. The lug recess itself is much better.... but, a (very) thin layer of Marine Tex got in between the action and the previous layer in the action bedding area. You can see from the pics where the "high" area is. The "low" area is where I was able to scrape that thin layer off with my fingernail (or a plastic razor blade, etc.), but it's so thin, I'm actually having quite a bit of trouble scraping the rest of the "high" spot off.

Given that the action area of the bedding is (I think) non-functional, and the extra layer is only about the width of a very fine hair, I'm wondering if it's worth trying to get more aggressive to get it off, or if I can/should just leave it. For reference, it sort of looks like this throughout the action bedding area, not just near the lug recess.

If it matters, I'm much more worried about functionality than I am about it being "ugly."

Thanks!

 

[smoothy8500]

This seems to always occur when attempting to "fix" one particular area in the bedding. The front of the receiver is now a few thou higher than the rear (tang) bedding. If you were to place a dial indicator on the receiver while torquing the screws to spec you likely would see some flex/movement. Now, is that going to visibly affect the accuracy? Maybe/maybe not.

This is why a "re-do" generally requires removal of about 1/8" of all surfaces other than the pillars. In the end, it really would not have been much more work than what you put into just a spot fix.

All in all, it's probably still better performing than before any bedding was done.

 

[RmeJu]

The front of the receiver is now a few thou higher than the rear (tang) bedding. If you were to place a dial indicator on the receiver while torquing the screws to spec you likely would see some flex/movement.

Not sure if this would change your answer, but during the re-do, I fixed some small voids near the tang, and got the same thin sheet of Marine Tex there too... maybe I should just leave everything as is?

 

[iceng]

If you have impurities in the bedding, cut it out and restart. If you want to repair, cut a small trench line with a Dremel or pencil grinder for the over flow to squish into. It helps prevent the flow / sheeting effect you have.

It will still shoot fine, unless you are trying to beat a world record.

 

[RmeJu]

It will still shoot fine, unless you are trying to beat a world record.

Not looking for a world record, just looking for most of the improvement I can reasonably expect from a bedding job. If what I have will get me 90% of the obtainable improvement, I'll just bolt it together and call it a day. If I'm only likely to get more like 50% of that improvement, I'll probably try again.

 

[chutinlead]

You won’t know till you bolt it together and try. See how it shoots, and decide if it’s good.

 

[iceng]

^ What he said. Shoot it and see. If it works, you saved yourself a day of rebedding.