Bedding...

[lazyMlazyK]

I've recently been trying to learn about bedding an action to a stock, and it seems there are lots of opinions on the subject. Now, I haven't yet bedded an action, but I plan to on the hunting rifle I'm slowly working on. Here's a question I can't get out of my head (and there's s very real possibility I'm overthinking this):

It seems the consensus is that you want a stress-free bedding.
- my thoughts are, if you want a stress-free bedding, you'll need to have your barrel on and action screws torqued as the bedding is setting up, right? If you don't torque the action screws down when the bedding is wet, don't the action screws create two stress points when they're torqued on dry bedding?

 

[DaveTooley]

The area around the screws is supported by the bedding. The screws can't do anything but pull the action into contact with the bedding. There is stress on the action threads but that doesn't transfer to the action. You're way over thinking this.

 

[davidjoe]

I think the fully torqued action screws will always generate a pressure peak radiating out from them, like (but less than) two planks of wood bolted together, between the bolts’ washers. But the better the surfaces match up, the more the boards’ full surface areas reinforce each other.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I've recently been trying to learn about bedding an action to a stock, and it seems there are lots of opinions on the subject. Now, I haven't yet bedded an action, but I plan to on the hunting rifle I'm slowly working on. Here's a question I can't get out of my head (and there's s very real possibility I'm overthinking this):

It seems the consensus is that you want a stress-free bedding.
- my thoughts are, if you want a stress-free bedding, you'll need to have your barrel on and action screws torqued as the bedding is setting up, right? If you don't torque the action screws down when the bedding is wet, don't the action screws create two stress points when they're torqued on dry bedding?

Do not tighten the bolts. All you will do is pull the assembly down on the irregular surfaces, (putting it in stress), negating the reason for bedding the action in the first place.

 

[Clancy]

Don’t torque the bolts.

Also, I can tell you from many many experiences…. If you don’t have a mill, let someone else do the bedding. The cleanup isn’t that big of a deal, but the prep is.

 

[paperpuncher]

I've recently been trying to learn about bedding an action to a stock, and it seems there are lots of opinions on the subject. Now, I haven't yet bedded an action, but I plan to on the hunting rifle I'm slowly working on. Here's a question I can't get out of my head (and there's s very real possibility I'm overthinking this):

It seems the consensus is that you want a stress-free bedding.
- my thoughts are, if you want a stress-free bedding, you'll need to have your barrel on and action screws torqued as the bedding is setting up, right? If you don't torque the action screws down when the bedding is wet, don't the action screws create two stress points when they're torqued on dry bedding?

Heres a great article IMO. This method has given me exceptional results
https://www.6mmbr.com/pillarbedding.html

 

[tobnpr]

^^^
This. No action screws- headless bolts. Always done it this way, but I use surgical tubing instead of stretching electrical tape to evenly compress the action into the stock.

 

[Preacher]

I never put pressure on the action while curing the bedding, just set up the barrel to level out the receiver, with torque tubes attached and apply tubing to the barrel to hold it while curing.....

 

[DeerHunter82]

I'm not a pro, but I've done a few of mine that have come out nicely. I usually apply some gentle clamping force right behind the recoil lug and again right behind the port. I don't set the action screws at all.