stock bedding - is this normal?

[emfour]

I have a savage 10FP in .308 that has a 'custom' barrel. I bought a stock to go on it and after looking at it, decided to have the gunsmith bed it for me. What was going on is this: when I tightened the rear action screw the barrel lifted up about 3/16',just a guess). This did not seem right and I've bedded a handful of rifles but I have never encountered something like this. It would seem that when tightening the front screw,pulling the barrel back down) that the action is now being bent slightly. I have received the rifle back from the gunsmith and this is still happening. So my question is, is this O.K., or is it robbing me of accuracy. The gunsmith told me it shot 1/2' or better but I can't get any better than 1' out of it,the factory barrel did much better than that).

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Emfour

 

[Travelor]

The problem may be that the barrel is not bedded right in front of the recoil lug and it is just causing the barreled action to tip forward until the screws are tightened.

With the gun in a cleaning cradle - press the action down firmly into the stock with your hand while supporting the end of the barrel and see if it rocks. If it rocks then you probably have a bedding problem.

My guess is that the 'smith did not bed the rear of the barrel and the action fits fine, but is tipping intil tha action scres have been tightened - if this is the case is should be fine.

 

[emfour]

Thank you for the reply!

The barrel is bedded about 3' in front of the recoil lug.

I noticed that when the stock was new,no bedding), I could drop the action into it and it seemed to fit fine, but when I tightened the rear screw it would cause the action/barrel to lift. I was hoping that after proper bedding this would not happen. I don't recall the previous stock doing this and it was bedded in the same way.

It is as if the bedding surface in the rear is not parallel to the front bedding surface or the rest of the stock,it would seem to be angled 'up'). When I tighten the front screw the front of the action/barrel pulls down to where it sat prior to tightening the rear screw.

 

[BoydAllen]

Stop doing what you described; you are ruining the bedding. If you take a close look at the stock, you will see that the rear action screw hole is cut away to clear part of the trigger. This is why you don't ever want to tighten the back screw first. Assemble the rifle with the screws just holding things together, no tension. stand the rifle up on its butt, and then tighten the front screw about half way to fully tight. Do the same to the back screw, and then go back to the front and fully tighten, and then to the back the same. I have a friend who did what you described and it moved the rear pillar in the stock, requiring repair and rebedding. I have shot and worked on my Savages for years. BTW, the reason for standing the rifle on its butt is so that the recoil lug will be in firm contact with the stock.

 

[titus123]

Boydallen is correct. You should never tighten the rear action screw first. Also what tension are you using on the action screws. Often times the manufacturer of a new replacement stock will have a specific torque they recommend for the front and rear action screws to prevent the cantilever effect you have been experiencing. Is the rifle pillar bedded and skim- coated?Is the stock one with a full aluminum chassis?

 

[emfour]

No torque specs were given. I'll check with the maker to find out.

It is pillar bedded w/ aluminum frame, it is definitely skim bedded,or better, there is a decent amount of bedding visible).

It would appear that I have nothing to worry about as long as I haven't damaged the bedding,I'll check).

Thank you for your help!

 

[rwk]

Did you find out how many in. pounds of torqe