While out for a hike carrying my CZ 458 Lott recently, I got caught in a fairly heavy rain shower that soaked myself and the rifle. The rifle has been bedded, and additional cross bolts added when it was customized. Is it safe to remove the stock for a thorough cleaning, or will it ruin the bedding etc??

It should be removed from the stock for a thorough cleaning and that should not affect the bedding at all.

If the bedding is affected by removing the barreled action from the stock then the bedding was done wrong.

The bedding and cross bolts are part of the stock and will not be affected by removing the barreled action. If it isn't common to get your rifle wet where you hunt, just put a couple of coats of auto paste wax on the barreled action before reassembling the gun and it will protect it fairly well from a bit of rain. If rain is common, I'd suggest you consider a composite stock.

I like to pull 'em apart and put 2 LIGHT coats of spar varnish on the inside. Now they're as waterproof as a wood stock can get.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI