Need some help from the pros on pillar bedding

[tonyb]

Hello all,

I have just received two brand new A-5's. I did not have them install the pillars, as I believe it is better to have the pillar surface above the rest of the bedding area to give room for devcon. I know that the pillars are machined along with the action contour if ordered from Mcmillan. I am thinking around .050" but not sure. I have a friend with cnc equipment that is going to make pillars for me.

Thanks in advance,

Tony.

 

[Preacher]

Better to have them covered with bedding material, than to just be setting on the pillars only....
Usually a very light skim bedding over the original bedding is a good thing...

 

[shortgrass]

I may not order as many as some do (6 or 7 so far this year) but the those that I have received from McMillian have been very good, if not excellent quality. With that in mind, I wouldn't think they just jam those pillars in without any thought. There's a reason why they do it the way they do. I think Preacher pretty much answered the question.

 

[watercam]

I have done it both ways, can't seem to tell the difference on paper. My one and only professionally built long range match rifle his the pillars hard against the action, bedding around them. For what it is worth. Seems since Devcon is the bedding compound it would not matter since it is metal-reinforced.

 

[tonyb]

watercam, thats what I am thinking, if you look at a lot of the professional jobs now days, you will see the top of the pillars are flush with the bedding that surrounds them. I was even told by the rep from McMillan to install them myself just for that reason. If you order the pillars installed, they are machined flush with the rest of the stock. I was just unsure of how much clearance to leave for the bedding.

Tony.

 

[rpatowers]

The pillars should be epoxied flush with the stock material. After they set up, remove stock material around the action area to make room for the bedding epoxy. For the McMillan stock, remove about 1/8" of the stock material all around the aciton area (where possible).

 

[areaone]

I just installed a 6 BR in a Surgeon RSR action with a Kreiger #8 barrell into a Mcmillan Winchester Marksman stock-sniper fill and with Mcmillan installing the pillars. Sid Goodling did the chamber and barrel work. Now my point------No bedding other than the pillars, it will shoot in the low teens at 100yds and in the .50's at 300 yds. with 62 gr bergers..... I am not going to touch this, a combination of barreling and stock and this is a shooter. I am very pleased with the Mcmillan work and have an A3 on order. This was with a load that shoots well in another 6 br that I have, may be better with some load work. I do not shoot competition, only Paper, fox, coyote and PD. I really like this Marksman stock, perfect setup. 12.8 lbs with scope. Pillars are flush with the stock.

 

[butchlambert]

I'm sure you have some billfold size pics of those groups. How about sharing them with us.
Butch

 

[tonyb]

Thanks to all for your reply's, any more are welcome.

Tony.

 

[Brodie]

I make my pillars from aluminum bar stock, and don't worry about contouring with the action as the bedding will contour to the action over the pillars and do a nice job.
I mill the inletting out so I have a nice thick layer of bedding material everywhere. I drill the holes in the stock out to 5/8 if using an aftermarket DBM system or 9/16 if using factory bdl setup (Only experience with remingtons/clones). I make my pillars longer than needed and then once everything has cured I mill the pillars to length so the bottom metal fits perfectly.
After using this method I will never skim bed another rifle, I have been happy the results of doing it this way.