Pillar Bed a Savage Axis 223

[Pirate69]

I am happy to see the earlier thread, but I do not want to highjack it. I have a Savage Axis 223 with a Boyds stock that I have been trying to figure out how to pillar bed. The rear pillar looks like a real challenge. At this point, I have only relieved the wood under the barrel nut. Barrel is free floated all the way to the action. I am getting tight grouping and then will lose a shot. Photo below is an example. The group on the left: I think I blinked at the time of the shot (maybe, maybe not). The lost shot on the right: don't have a clue why it is out of the group. I am wondering if I have a bedding issue. Until I can figure out how to do the pillar bedding, I may just skim bed the front and rear and see how that works. Of course, the problem may be me. Has anyone had success pillar bedding an Axis?

 

[KMW 1954]

I was consistently seeing that same pattern with my 223 until I started annealing the cases after every round. It didn't eliminate it but it reduced the number of fliers and also shrunk the size of the groups with those fliers.

But still there are a bunch of other things to cause that also.

As to the rear pillar in a Savage stock, yes it can be tricky and from what I remember Body's does not add a pillar to the rear action screw when the add them. Also had a Boyd's At-One delaminate between the Magwell and trigger intel. Boyd's told me it was over tightening the screw.

 

[Rat Rifle]

IMO, to pillar bed a Savage safely and property, You at minimum need a drill press. The rear pillar is especially tricky. I secure the Stock securely on the table and drill the hole up one drill bit at a time. This is especially important on the rear hole as there is not much meat there. I make My pillars out of Lamp Nipple because they make a thin pillar that has plenty of crush strength. A thicker pill can be used in the front if desired. Finish off with a good Epoxy job. These precautions are necessary to help prevent a Boyd’s Stock from cracking later.

Edit…if You find out for sure what causes flyers, please let us all know

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I haven’t bedded my Savage’s, but I do make sure the rear tang clears the stock by a card stock thickness.

 

[Pirate69]

Great suggestions, thank. It is a work in progress.