Of stocks and bedding

[Andy T]

I am trying to figure out the whole bedding thing and I have a few questions:
1. Why is it less desirable to buy a used stock that has been bedded vs that hasn't?
2. Why is it necessary to bed a stock that has pillars in it? I thought they would prevent fiberglass compression.
3. Stock specific: Do McMillan stocks have pillars in them or are they just fiberglass?
3a. What about HS precision PSS stocks - nobody seems to be bedding those compared to McMillan?

Thanks!

 

[fockell]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

I don't know much about bedding, but I do know this. Send G&A your rifle with stock New or used and they will have you fixed up for about $300. about 7 weeks ago my buddy tried doing his himself. After buying the marine tex, pillars and reamer. He had over $100 in stuff. It did not turn out well and had to send it to G&A anyhow. They fixed his screw ups and sent it back in two weeks. His rifle was a remington sendero, he put a McMillian stock on it. It almost shoots as well as my crusader. Brandon

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

Minor differences in fabrication tolerances means that although a stock has been bedded before, there is a pretty high chance that your action won't fit perfectly. You may have to redo the bedding, which involes removing the old bedding material. It's easier to start with a stock that has not been bedded simply becuse there is no material to removed.

The point of bedding is not simply to keep the stock from compressing. You are right in that pillars alone accomplish this. Bedding is a means to minimize action movement from shot to shot - something that action screws alone do a poor job at.

You can order McMillan stock with pillars, but they do not come with them unless you specify it.

People do ineed bed HS precision stocks - there is no need to use pillars as the whole skeleton of the stock is aluminum. Like any other stock, bedding can really help an HS precision-equipped rifle.

 

[Andy T]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

What I don't understand - why if McMillan considered to be one of the expensive stocks they don't have aluminum pillars as standard?
So essentially you are paying 600-800 for a fiberglass stock?

 

[Hateca]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Andy T</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What I don't understand - why if McMillan considered to be one of the expensive stocks they don't have aluminum pillars as standard?
So essentially you are paying 600-800 for a fiberglass stock? </div></div>

Because not everyone will use pillars, hell some won't even bed it.

You are paying $600 - $800 for a well made industry standard fiberglass stock. There are others to choose from, if McMillan isn't what you are looking for then make another choice.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: darrenk75b</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The point of bedding is not simply to keep the stock from compressing. You are right in that pillars alone accomplish this. Bedding is a means to minimize action movement from shot to shot </div></div>

If I understood this as it was explained to me by several very intelligent and helpful people, there is another important byproduct of correctly bedding the action. An unbedded action rides on a series of high and low spots. High spots put stress on the receiver. Low spots create areas that can "slap" against the receiver just after ignition. Both of these conditions contribute to erratic, inconsistent groups and may continue to give you fits even if the action no longer moves in realtion to the stock.

John

 

[Hateca]

Re: Of stocks and bedding

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: darrenk75b</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The point of bedding is not simply to keep the stock from compressing. You are right in that pillars alone accomplish this. Bedding is a means to minimize action movement from shot to shot </div></div>

If I understood this as it was explained to me by several very intelligent and helpful people, there is another important byproduct of correctly bedding the action. An unbedded action rides on a series of high and low spots. High spots put stress on the receiver. Low spots create areas that can "slap" against the receiver just after ignition. Both of these conditions contribute to erratic, inconsistent groups and may continue to give you fits even if the action no longer moves in realtion to the stock.

John </div></div>

Correct, the stock isn't perfect, and the action is never perfect. So bedding gives them a perfect mating surface.