Should I Bed Barrel Shank?

[WhelenMan]

Okay, this is my first competition rifle to put together. It's going to be a Rem 700 SA receiver with a 28" HV barrel in 6BRX set in a Rutland Laminate stock. I'm planning on pillar bedding the action myself and was wondering what the thinking is on bedding 2-3 inches of the barrel forward of the recoil lug to help with stress on the action. I thought I would do this initially and if I wasn't satisfied it could always be milled out to completely float the barrel. What's everyone's thinking on this? Should I or shouldn't I? Any tricks? All opinions welcome....

 

[TRECustom]

I haven't ever bedded one that far out, but in a big laminate stock, it might work because of the rigidity of the laminates. As you said, if it doesn't work, you can start cutting it back in maybe 1/2" increments. I would be very interested in the results, because I only bed 1/2" to 1" in front of the recoil lug, and sometimes that doesn't work. A lot of it has to do with resonances and damping, more maybe than support.

Again, I'd like to know what you decide and how it comes out.
There are guys out there who know a lot more about bedding than I do, so maybe some of them will share their hard-earned knowledge. I'll check this thread every time I log on.

Good shooting, Tom

 

[tenring]

I would try free floating and then shooting it first. If it doesn't perform well, then glass it about 1" forward. I have removed glass bedding and it is very time intensive.

 

[Preacher]

I don't usually bother with applying bedding to the barrel, even on my SV BAT with a 28 inch 1.350 hanging on the end of it and it shoots very very well....
You could always bed it later if you saw the need.......

 

[TRECustom]

I use a Dumore flexible shaft tool with a small carbide burr to remove hardened bedding compound in seconds. It doesn't have to be completely removed, just cut down enough to clear contact, in the case of trimming back barrel bedding.

Tom

 

[tightneck]

I don't usually bother with applying bedding to the barrel, even on my SV BAT with a 28 inch 1.350 hanging on the end of it and it shoots very very well....
You could always bed it later if you saw the need.......

Even though the BAT SV is only 6.5" long, it is much stronger than a 700. I am impressed that the little SV will perform with that much weight hanging from it.

I have bedded the first inch or two of barrel for years on most of my non glue-in applications. With heavier barrels, I think it will help keep the action from torquing in the stock. The most important factor is that the bedding is stress free. Second is that the barreled action is lined up perfectly with the stock so that it recoils properly. Try it, you may like it.

 

[WhelenMan]

It seems that there's no general consensus on this. I think that I'll try floating it for a couple of inches first and if necessary trim it back to relieve contact. I'm going to make sure the alignment is spot on in the various planes of the stock. It shouldn't require a lot to free the barrel. There shouldn't be that much movement with the harmonics of the barrel this close to the shank and action should there? Thanks for all the opinions so far. Keep em coming!