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.

 

[diggler1833]

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.

While I'm always a fan of bedding myself, could it be the stress induced by Outlier's rifling process (or a lack of stress relief)? I guess we'll find out if you bed it again and continue to get the same results.

I've got a factory Bergara Premier that does that like clockwork, but takes three rounds before it shifts .2 to the 2 O'clock. It has been bedded into two different stocks now, and still produces the same results.

^ I can either do a ton of three shot groups, or shoot three foulers to warm the barrel before I shoot it for groups for load development and not let it get cold again (which is what I did). Since it is a hunting rifle and load development is complete, I now just practice with three shots before letting it completely cool and start over.

The barrel otherwise shoots fine.

 

[XP1K]

While I'm always a fan of bedding myself, could it be the stress induced by Outlier's rifling process (or a lack of stress relief)? I guess we'll find out if you bed it again and continue to get the same results.

I've got a factory Bergara Premier that does that like clockwork, but takes three rounds before it shifts .2 to the 2 O'clock. It has been bedded into two different stocks now, and still produces the same results.

^ I can either do a ton of three shot groups, or shoot three foulers to warm the barrel before I shoot it for groups for load development and not let it get cold again (which is what I did). Since it is a hunting rifle and load development is complete, I now just practice with three shots before letting it completely cool and start over.

The barrel otherwise shoots fine.

I'm thinking it's stress induced in the barrel myself. It's like clockwork. You can count on the first one to be ½" high and slightly left. Usually 11:30, 11:45. Sometimes the first two will be up there touching. The next three will usually drop in the same hole right where they should be.

Even at that, it still shoots .5 moa. It'd be in solid .3xx territory if it weren't for the outlier in the bunch.

 

[diggler1833]

I'm thinking it's stress induced in the barrel myself. It's like clockwork. You can count on the first one to be ½" high and slightly left. Usually 11:30, 11:45. Sometimes the first two will be up there touching. The next three will usually drop in the same hole right where they should be.

Even at that, it still shoots .5 moa. It'd be in solid .3xx territory if it weren't for the outlier in the bunch.

Mine becomes pretty noticeable at 300+ yards (it is a 7mm RM) when I will double group with two inches between groups if I try more than 3 rounds. Fortunately, since it is a hunting rifle I (hopefully) only need one shot. Not that I've killed a lot with it, but it has gone 3 for 3 for me (170, 255, and 295 yards), and the 150gr Nosler Accubond LR is pretty devastating.

Either way man, I hope that you get it sorted out.