New stock install

[Texas Solo]

I have a new McMillan stock. My recoil lug is .244". The lug recess in stock is .250". When installing action, should the action be forward against the stock, or rearward?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Rearward with weight against stock standing before final tightening of action screw bolts.

 

[Texas Solo]

Thank you sir.

 

[p-man]

I'm confused - doesn't the stock already have true-drilled guard screw holes? If so your recoil lug should be fairly tight - less than 10-thousandths gap - against the rear wall of the recoil lug well. Is that not the case? If it already has pillars or a chassis, then it should be snug with almost no gap.

 

[Texas Solo]

I'm confused - doesn't the stock already have true-drilled guard screw holes? If so your recoil lug should be fairly tight - less than 10-thousandths gap - against the rear wall of the recoil lug well. Is that not the case? If it already has pillars or a chassis, then it should be snug with almost no gap.

There's always a gap. The idea is to eliminate it by having the lug tight up against the lug recess. Pillars or not, There's always a gap unless you bed the lug.

 

[p-man]

I've done a couple hundred stocks and understand that but it appears in this case that his rifle has noticeable for and aft movement in the stock - which it should not have if guard screws or inletting/bedding guides are in place. That movement indicates much more involved gap than just the recoil lug well.

 

[Texas Solo]

I've done a couple hundred stocks and understand that but it appears in this case that his rifle has noticeable for and aft movement in the stock - which it should not have if guard screws or inletting/bedding guides are in place. That movement indicates much more involved gap than just the recoil lug well.

Negitive. It's a new McMillan stock.
The lug recess is .250, my lug is .244.
.006 is not a big gap.

 

[p-man]

I understand the dimensions - when you have your action in the stock with guard screws in place but not tightened there should not be any really noticeable movement unless there's been purposeful gap left for bedding material. CNC machining on McMillans is pretty damn precise so their fit tends to be much more 'snug' than other makes with cast or molded inletting. Unless specified by the manufacturer, production stocks are not intended for, not make allowances for, bedding material. So most who bed new stocks are only skim bedding. If I mistook your post, my apologies.