Re: Are pillars really needed in a McMillan?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If the stock is sniper fill you don't really need pillars. The stock fill is strong enough to support the torque without pillars
If the stock is standard or light fill you can bed it without aluminum pillars but I recommend counter boring the holes allow bedding material to create in essences a bedding material pillar in the stock. If you do this you might as well install aluminum pillars.
You are always in danger of compressing standard or light fill stocks depending on what you torque your action screws to.
If you have a poor fit between barreled action and stock then bedding will almost always be needed. McMillan stocks and the FN-SPR were famous for this.
If your rifle is shooting well enough without bedding then it's up to you but bedding is not just for added strength. The action and stock are never a perfect match, the bedding forms to the stock and the action to make a perfect matching surface. This removes any uneven surface contact that can create stress. This will also allow the barreled action to return to the same place once removed and put back in.
So is it always needed? No. Is it recommended? Yes.
</div></div>
This is one of the best answers I have gotten. Like many things there is always the "need vs recommend".
As it's a new stock I don't know how it'll shoot if no pillars are installed. With a pair on order they will be installed anyway.
The stock does have sniper fill though. I didn't know the was actually a harder compound and less likely to give or crush over time.
But for the time it takes (not a lot) and the peace of mind that comes from it all, the pillars will be set in place when I bed the action.
