Just picked up an 88 in very nice confition.

It has the "clover leaf" recoil block.

Does anyone know how to bed the block to prevent cracking through the wrist?

I have a first year of production 88 in 308 and just bedded the block by removing small amount of wood where contact had printed and glassing with acra glas. I had more issue with the action screw binding as tightened which I relieved slightly and bedded. After this work I am always amazed with accuracy. The rifle prints Federal 180 gr better than anything I have loaded. Shoots everything well but the Fed 180 is just amazing. Good luck with yours. Lynn

Lynn,

Thanks so much for the reply.

Did you bed the block on the vertical surface (inside the stock)?

I was thinking that plus relieve the stock behind the "clover leaf"...

Where did you bed in the area of the action screw, specifically?

Best;
Brett

I will pull the rifle apart take pictures and post, it will be next week before I manage it though. Good luck,Lynn

Lynn, perfect - thanks so much!!

Brett

Here is an 88 I stocked many years age. the original stock was cracked at the wrist. I bedded the recoil block and it wasn't easy but do-able.

Mick,

Thanks for sharing - extreemly nice work!

Did you bed the rear surface of the verticle part of the block?

I'm guessing that and some relief between the top surfaces of the block and the stock would prevent cracks in the wrist caused by the block?

Best;
Brett

As I remember, I only bedded the vertical surface of the block. The bottom of the tang portion had good sold contact with the wood so I left that area alone. I did it in 2 steps because I didn't want to use too much epoxy and take a chance of gluing the block and through bolt in. That was my biggest fear with the whole job.

Thanks for the complement. It was my father in-law's rife, I owed him money and he had a broken stock, funny how things work out sometimes.

Pulled rifle apart and I had forgotten that the stock was quite gun oil soaked to get bedding to stay drilled back into clean wood then relieved surface and bedded with acts glas to full contact with vertical face and in tang area relieved rear and sides then drilled down to clean wood under tang and bedded for full contact. I use minwax finish wax as release agent. Did the bedding in one step. As to the front action screw it was binding in the insert so carefully reamed for minimum clearance and no binding so when tightened. Also relieved barrel channel everywhere except very bottom. The stock showed contact uneven in channel. When I received rifle it was complete as purchased with old plum colored Leupold 4x and 2 boxes of ammo bought at same time 1 box 150 1 box 180 vintage Remington 12 left in one box and 8 in the other. Rifle was hunted a lot by wear and marks and shot very little. PM me your email or phone # and I will send pics which are less than great. Good luck, Lynn

Lynn,

Thanks so much for taking the time to help!

I PMed my phone and email address just now.

Best;
Brett