Pillar Bedding a B&C M40 Stock

[MMH]

I have a Remington 700 Long Range (84164) in 300 WinMag that I trying to turn into a budget precision rifle. It has a B&C M40 stock on it which I built up the pistol grip on to emulate my Manners T4 stock. The barrel is free floated on it. I added PT&G bottom metal to it so it accepts AICS mags (3.715" COAL). The stock has an aluminum insert in it. The trigger is Remington's X-Mark Pro which can feels pretty good and is down to around 3 lbs.

The accuracy is OK but not as good as I would like. I am getting about 2 moa. The stock is not bedded at all and I think that that pillar bedding is my next step. I have not done this before but it seams simple enough. The only question that I have is do I need a drilling jig? I'm not sure how I can maintain precise hole angles for the pillars w/o a jig. On the other hand, if I have to spend money on a jig, I might as well pay somebody just to do it for me.

Here is what the rifle looks like now:

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If it has the aluminum block in it you dont need to pillar bed. As far as bedding you can do it! Do a search on my “quick bedding tutorial”. It applies to exactly what you need to do on that stock. Any questions just reply there

 

[Bill Norris]

Yea, that stock should already have the aluminum bedding block from the factory. At least both of my M-40 s do.

 

[chutem]

I am not, by any stretch, an expert, but, I have never seen an aluminum bedding block pillered. Most folks will skim bed the bedding block. All of my bedding block stocks are skim bedded. That is the route I would take on a bedding block style stock. Next, get rid of the x mark pro trigger. Trigger Tech or Timney would get you started, then go from there.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If youre getting 2moa you may have bigger issues than bedding.

 

[MMH]

If youre getting 2moa you may have bigger issues than bedding.

The stock does have a aluminum bedding block - I did not realize that this eliminated the need for pillar bedding. Don't know if I really need to go down the skim bedding route yet.

I guess the first place to start would be to get a good shooter to shoot the rifle. I can shoot my 308 & 5.56 sub moa, but maybe not this rifle. I am shooting it with a suppressor, not muzzle brake. Maybe my lack of consistent recoil control is showing up on this gun.

Assuming that it is the rifle, how would I go about sorting out what the issues are? What is a reasonable accuracy expectation out of a low cost R700? I am trying to do this as a budget build & do not want to throw a bunch of money at it.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

When you have it apart next time with the action screws out make sure the back of the recoil lug is catching the bedding block, and action screw holes are centered on block and stock. You sure don’t won’t your action screws to be taking the recoil. Get a better trigger also.

 

[Kurz]

a budget precision rifle

I know there's a lot of yammering on the forums regarding 'budget precision rifles'. However, rarely are these two concepts clearly associated with the same rifle. You can achieve precision but usually not on what you refer to a budget unless you have a really good budget!

The composite stocks which include the aluminum bedding blocks always need to be bedded. The machining of the inlet on those blocks is very generic which requires bedding to create a stress-free seat for your action. I don't care whose instructions you follow as long as you do it correctly. It can be a fulfilling project especially over the winter.

But, if you really mean 2MOA, there is more wrong than just the bedding. Unless you are a gunsmith with the experience to diagnose the potential problems, I would consult one. Most amateurs simply run the list of those problems they have read about, thinking they can solve your problem. See someone with the experience to actually solve the problem.

Having a second shooter test your loads and rifle is a good start. But it could be the scope, crown or other physical drawback (3lb trigger...). Most problems are solved by actually working on the rifle not guessing on a forum.

Best of luck!

 

[STOMP442]

Are you getting 2moa from factory ammo or reloads? If reloads then I would say you need to double check all mounting screws on bases and scope to ensure everything is good there. I would also make sure and remove the fore end bedding pads that B&C put in their stocks and ensure that the barrel is free floated. Then I would work on your load to tighten that up. I work up lots of loads for lots of people in lots of different calibers and the .300 Win mag is constantly and consistently the most picky caliber I have ever messed with. They rarely like the same bullet or powder combo. I can work up one that loves a 185gr and H4831 and the next one will absolutely hate that combo and end up liking Retumbo with a 210gr. Just have to keep messing with it and see what that particular rifle prefers.

 

[Darwin]

Change your barrel. I put a BC M40 on Rem 700 in 280 that shot 1 3/4 at 100. Didn’t change. An IBI prefit fixed it.