Rifle Scopes Scope Base Bedding?

[crewchef]

New glass on the way and already have new Seekins base (20 MOA) and rings (thanks Scott @ Liberty). Rifle is Remington SPS Tactical. Test fitted the base last night to see if it needed to be bedded. It does, I think but need to get some input as results weren't anything I expected.

Lined up the base and installed using just the two front screws. Straight in from the back I can squeeze in .002 feeler but if coming from the right (looking from butt of gun down barrel) side I can get .004 anywhere on that side. Assumed I had my answer at that point, bed the base on the rear. But then I took out front screws and installed with back screws. Almost exact same thing, straight on from front I couldn't actually get a feeler in but on right side there was .002/.003 gap.

Appears action (maybe base) isn't true side to side? So how would one go about bedding the base to fix this? My thought was two part process. Bedding rear first as it is off the most and then bed front. Just not sure if that's right way or if maybe I need to recheck some how.

Any input appreciated.

 

[trukreltrog]

Re: Scope Base Bedding?

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aoW5bHQqgis"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aoW5bHQqgis" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[jagged77]

Re: Scope Base Bedding?

You've described the typical fit of a scope base to a SA Rem 700 Receiver. Bedding the base makes a great job and I've done two of mine but I've also got a SPS 700 Tactical .308 right now with no bedding that shoots better than me so go figure!

The above video is a great instructional made by LoneWolfUSMC, CLICK HERE for a link to his original thread.

 

[crewchef]

Re: Scope Base Bedding?

I've watched the video several times. Understand what and how to bed but don't understand why I've got gap on front and back and not one or the other. Don't really care why I guess as much as what should be done. Bed both front and back, same time, one at a time. Just the back and then check front again?

Considered not bedding but assumed I would end up having to lap the rings then since I would just be moving the problem from base to rings.

 

[crewchef]

Re: Scope Base Bedding?

Disregard but for anyone else is the same boat...

Sometimes we make things harder than they really are. At least in my case I was creating my own problem. With back two screws in place I couldn't see any light shining through. That was using a LED flashlight and looking from every angle I could. Went ahead and put feeler guages to it to verify. That's where I created my own problems. If you work at it you can fit .005 + guage under the front of the base. I just went back through process again to double check myself. Noticed what was happening was the feeler guage was actually pushing base up when I worked it under the base.

With two front screws in I can see light around the back edge of base especially on right side so will be bedding the back only to correct.

Thanks!