Bedding question

[XP1K]

Recently built myself a 6 dasher hunting rifle and I've got an odd cold bore flier. It always starts a half inch high for at least the first shot, sometimes the first two.

the action was already bedded from long ago but I had to redo the area around the recoil lug when I rebarreled it. Right now the lug is surrounded with bedding and a short portion about ¾" ahead of the lug.

My question is, should I relieve everything in front of and below the lug ?

I've done two other rifles the way I did this one and they shot well. No cold bore shift or anything put of the norm. Just this one giving me fits. Could be the cheap outlier barrel, but the barrel will group. Just dealing with this coldbore issue right now.

 

[Char'ed Cuterie]

...Could be the cheap outlier barrel...

Sure could be. I have one in 6.5 Creedmoor, and I don't love the machining marks running down each one of the lands from stem to stern. Mine only shoots just ok, haven't seen a single inspiring group out of it. After using it up in positional practice and off-season one day matches, I do not plan on trying another.

You could try some of the old school cold bore methods. I think Mr. Gretan was using Neolube #2 on a patch after cleaning, I've heard of using Lock-Eez, things like that. Worth a shot if you think that's the only thing holding you back.

 

[XP1K]

Sure could be. I have one in 6.5 Creedmoor, and I don't love the machining marks running down each one of the lands from stem to stern. Mine only shoots just ok, haven't seen a single inspiring group out of it. After using it up in positional practice and off-season one day matches, I do not plan on trying another.

You could try some of the old school cold bore methods. I think Mr. Gretan was using Neolube #2 on a patch after cleaning, I've heard of using Lock-Eez, things like that. Worth a shot if you think that's the only thing holding you back.

I picked this one up new, but second hand. It was cheap and I wanted to try one. So here I am.

The bore in mine looked surprisingly good. I could definitely tell I wasn't looking at a bart or lilja, but there was nothing that really jumped out at me.

It consistently shoots .5 moa with little to no load development. Which is better than their 1 moa guarantee. Found that part out after the fact. If it wasn't for the coldbore issue it would be in .3xx territory.

One other thing is this barrel is horribly slow. I do good to hit mid 2700's with a 90-95gr bullet before I get pressure. Barrel length is 22"

By contrast, the 21" proof I chambered for a friend with the same reamer, is 100-150 fps faster than I am shooting 105's.

 

[Char'ed Cuterie]

Huh, I've got the opposite issue with mine haha. Speeds identical to a slightly-faster-than-normal Krieger, but far inferior group sizes and it looks rough on the borescope. Probably figures if we're honest, as you noted... they do not cost very much. Such is.

I'd give the Neolube/Lock-Eez a shot before I ripped out the bedding, personally. If I'm ever removing bedding as part of troubleshooting, the very first section to go is anything forward of the recoil lug.

 

[XP1K]

If I'm ever removing bedding as part of troubleshooting, the very first section to go is anything forward of the recoil lug.

That's what I was thinking of doing. I've always liked the idea of a little support just ahead of the lug. I see a lot of guys say that's a no no but I've never had it cause an issue. Granted, I think I've only bedded about four rifles.