PILLAR BEDDING on a hunting rifle

[Bamban]

You do know how noisy pillar bedding makes a hunting rifle when operating the bolt. Just be aware.

I don't know. Why is it so? Please enlighten.

 

[pertnear]

I might add, that depending on the rifle of course, I epoxy bed the floor plate around the pillar bottoms, even if just a skim coat.

 

[JudgeGarry]

I took my hunting rifles out of the plastic molded factory stocks and put them in laminate with pillars. Reason being I want them to be as accurate as I can possibly get them. Even though they have sporter contour barrels I want the first 2-3 shots on center at 100 yards, if I need more than that I should not be using that gun or hunting for that matter.
The animals deserve one shot kills.

I wish more hunters embraced the humane kill philosophy... Thanks!

 

[JudgeGarry]

I certainly understand that all of us want the most accurate rifle / load combo possible - I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't pursue a pillar bedding job just that it might not be necessary given your hunting requirements. But then there's always the "good feeling" and confidence that a tight shooting rifle gives a hunter. A pillar job is probably one of the easiest and cheapest rifle upgrades.

Most economy rifles produced today that I've seen at the range (i.e. Savage Axis, Ruger American, T&C Compass) shoot in the area of about 1 1/2 to 2" at 100 yards off the bench with factory ammo which is adequate for most deer hunting situations. I've even seen a few Savage Axis's shoot in the 1 to sub 1 moa range w/ tailored reloads.

A lot depends on where you hunt and the shot opportunities you anticipate having. My father shot 18 bucks with an open sighted 30-30 Model 94 lever action carbine but he hunted in the "big" woods of north central PA where shots beyond 150 yards were rare.

I've hunted deer for almost 50 years now and never shot one beyond 185 yards but all my hunting has been for the most part in heavily wooded areas.

I bet more deer have been harvested using the .30-30 round than any other. Definitely the go-to for the Pennsylvania big buck woods...

 

[rjtfroggy]

I bet more deer have been harvested using the .30-30 round than any other. Definitely the go-to for the Pennsylvania big buck woods...

Either that or the lever action Marlin 35Rem. another great brush buster used in the North East.

 

[Webster]

looking to replace the factory stock on a RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR rifle for deer hunting under a 100yds, should I get the pillar bedding?

thanks

It’s really about how accurate you shoot when it’s cold, maybe breathing hard and standing to shoot.

 

[uncle fester]

You do know how noisy pillar bedding makes a hunting rifle when operating the bolt. Just be aware.

Why would pillar bedding a rifle make noise when operating an action?

 

[G Liles]

I think that my hunting rifle should be as accurate as possible!! The game that we have the opportunity to harvest deserve the most ethical shot that we can make. I assure you that if your rifle won’t group better than 3 inches at 100 yards while sighting in or doing load development, during hunting conditions that 3 inch group will more likely be 6 to 10 inches. This just my opinion.

 

[Webster]

looking to replace the factory stock on a RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR rifle for deer hunting under a 100yds, should I get the pillar bedding?

thanks

As long as it shoots good enough why mess with it?