Question for the bedding experts here

[Schandler]

i realize this is a rimfire but would still love to read your thought opinions on this. I just bought savage rimfire 17 wsm - because i wanted it !! - even with the reputation of not very accurate for some rifles especially the Tupperware pencil barrels and rimfire ammo consistency. I have read about a few that were shooters. Ok so luck has it that this nib rifle sucks and i would like to bed it. My question for y’all is where to bed and how much. Even with the front action screw tight there’s still slop in barrel and action. I can feel it and no the barrel doesn’t have equidistant space along barrel and stock but it doesn’t touch anywhere from action out to end of barrel. Some say include the rings on barrel in bedding some say only include one ring. The action screws and setup suck but it’s what i have to work with here so give me your thoughts. I really want this to shoot and I’m open to anything you have to say. Shot rifle yesterday and 4” group is best i could get off rest and bag so whatever i do can’t hurt anything ! Thanks

 

[Schandler]

More pics

 

[Ggmac]

Before you go nuts , try different weight ammo , use WIND FLAGS !
A good rest and then try improving the rifle .
I would use business cards under different points to see if bedding those spots helps . You need to make sure the bolt handle doesn't touch the stock , make sure the torque on the action screws is the same . Try different settings .

 

[Schandler]

There was no wind or breeze even. The movement of barrel and action with action screw more than snug makes me want to do something - well and the 4” groups. I have some 25 and 17 gr coming Monday. I’m going to at least lay piece of rubber under barrel at action screw to see if i can get the movement out of it. You can move the barrel back and forth with it in the stock. Anybody ever used the jb weld putty stuff ?

 

[CharlieNC]

It appears the action screw holes in the stock are too large at the interface with the action. As a first step you may want to install pillars. Get threaded rod from the hardware store with an ID which is slightly larger than the action screws. Drill out the stock so the threaded rod will screw in firmly. Play with the protrusion on the rod such that the action tightens onto the pillars, such that they support the action vs the stock. In this manner you will not bugger the stock with epoxy, and can screw the pillars in/out to achieve a stable support. If happy, glue the pillars in and then contemplate epoxy addition for more stability. If unhappy, shorten the pillars to achieve no contact so no harm done.

 

[Fast14riot]

A cheap trick is to use aluminum ducting tape in several layers where you want to bed. Not permanent, will conform to contours, and quick/easy to try.

 

[jepp2]

I really want this to shoot and I’m open to anything you have to say. Shot rifle yesterday and 4” group is best i could get

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, but as long as you understand it just might not shoot.

I wanted a 17 HMR that I could use for prairie dogs. I have an Anschutz, but just didn't want to turn it into a "truck gun". So I ventured into a CZ455. Scoped it and took it to the range (100m) and this was the result:

You can't even tell which holes go with which target. It was a pattern, not groups. The only thing I changed (and the bedding was far from good) was the barrel. And this was the first group from the new barrel:

 

[ronemus]

The cutouts for the loading port and magazine don't leave much metal in the middle of the action, so it's going to be pretty flexible. Rather than bedding the action, you might consider a barrel block and free-floating the action. You also mention barrel rings; they are likely a part of the problem and eliminating them would probably help a lot.

 

[olddav]

I am no expert by any means (possibly a bit of a bubba), but if I was going to chase this rabbit here is what I would do.

My biggest concern is the plastic that sets between the action and the stock at both point of contact. If I were to bed the rifle using the factory parts then I would bed (maybe even glue) between the front magazine latch and the action, then bed between the latch and the stock and eliminate the C clip. The rear of the action has the same challenges. The plastic trigger housing is the interface between the action and the stock. Due to close proximity to the trigger mechanism I think I would opt for the aluminum tape trick (it does work) between the trigger and action and the trigger and stock.

I can't say that this is the answer but it looks like a logical way to address the challenges of bedding the rifle.

 

[akajun]

I had one in a flimsy plastic stock I traded for
Like yours the action fit was very poor shot all Ammo in 2-3” groups at 50
Simply made some pillars and screws on the lathe, taped the barrel to get the action to sit how I wanted it, then pillar bedded it pretty much using the pillars only since as you noticed there’s not much area for traditional bedding. Started shouting pretty much .5-1” groups at 50 with any ammo. I know that’s a very dramatic increase , but it shows how poor the fit was
I have since traded off that rifle or I’d show you pics

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Wrap tape around the action screws to tighten them up. Just a bubba way to see if you can tighten it up a bit. Id do a full bedding regimen myself but thats getting on out there. Make sure the trigger isnt hitting the stock- if that rube goldberg device is touching anywhere itll shoot like that

 

[6MMsteve]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, but as long as you understand it just might not shoot.

I wanted a 17 HMR that I could use for prairie dogs. I have an Anschutz, but just didn't want to turn it into a "truck gun". So I ventured into a CZ455. Scoped it and took it to the range (100m) and this was the result:
View attachment 1127461
You can't even tell which holes go with which target. It was a pattern, not groups. The only thing I changed (and the bedding was far from good) was the barrel. And this was the first group from the new barrel:
View attachment 1127460

that's how my 6xc shoots RDF's shotgun style

 

[Schandler]

Fellas i sent it back to savage yesterday - if it comes back not shooting i will do bedding and ask for more suggestions. What do you think they will do at savage ? Change barrel maybe or recrown ? I’m just curious. Never owned a rifle that shot that bad or not a bolt gun. Had a rem 760 i believe that was all over but not a bolt