I just bedded a SPS tactical in an HS Precision stock, I bedded the recoil lug completely on all sides. Pulled barrel action out this afternoon and it looks great, I have heard you should not bed the sides and front of the recoil lug, WHY?
Mainly so you dont get a mechanical lock when the bedding cures. I have pulled actions from the big riflesmiths here on the site and they appear to be bedded completely around the recoil lug, and usualy a inch or two under the barrel.
The main reason to tape the sides and front is to not create a mechanical lock. Especially on a square lug. With a tapered lug Im fine either way. With that said, I tape the BOTTOM of ALL 700 lugs.
Is the recoil lug on the 700 wider on the bottom than at the top?
I've bedded Model 70s and now Marlin XSs and I have always fully bedded the lug and first 1 - 2 inches of barrel, depending on the length, and then floated the rest. And the lug has always come out with a few minutes of back-and-forth. I think this provides a much better/tighter fit.
Can one not do this with a 700? What am I missing?