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Bedding questions ?

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09 November 2006, 03:17
cooperman.223
Bedding questions ?
I am shooting a Howa varminter .243 heavy stainless 1-10 twist barrel, laminate stock and getting around 3/4" groups with 87gr vmax and 46gr of vit160 powder (the best load so far). I am thinking of bedding the rifle but i have not done one before so i hope someone can give me some advice. How much would it improve accuracy ? and what would be the best to use ?


Work is the curse of the shooting man.
09 November 2006, 04:19
Dwight
You can get a lot of discussion on what is best but I use Brownells Acra Glas Gel. My opinion is to do the bedding before you expect a rifle to shoot which means I dod the bedding before the first round is fired.
You can do a search by clicking the find tap at the top of the page and get a lot of past postings and some with pics.
When you get ready to do the job remove the trigger and bolt. Use lots of release agent so you don't end up with a t permanent bond. Tape the stock very well in case you use too much material. You should use enough to get just a little run out on the stock edges. Don't get in a hurry. You can have a really bad problem if you get careless.
09 November 2006, 06:15
ramrod340
quote:
i hope someone can give me some advice

I sent you an email with some info


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
09 November 2006, 06:32
Snellstrom
Why is it that you want to bed the rifle?
Sounds like it has the potential to be a shooter with the statement you made about the "best load so far" also sounds like you are not done developing loads for it so how do you know it needs to be bedded?
I am all for bedding some rifles, but some shoot well without bedding, I happen to have quite a few. I also have some that needed bedding.
If you are quick to bed you may end up creating more work. For instance is your rifle currently free floated or does it have a pressure point? How long is the contact point near the reciever if the rest is free floated?
If you hog it out and bed it will you full length bed it, bed it with a pressure point, if free float how much or long is the contact point?
What if you bed it and by doing so dramatically change the harmonics and it don't shoot then as well as it does now?
If it were me I'd continue with load development and see if it shoots up to your expectations with out much tinkering. Sounds to me like it will shoot. If you exhaust all loads possible and it won't get where you want it then bed it.
Just my opinion.
09 November 2006, 22:24
Jon D
if your groups are good and round l would work on the loads some more.
if you have not tried them get some Sierra 80gr.Blitz and try with
Varget and H4895.my 40x puts them in 3/4 inch at 200yds.
Jon D.
10 November 2006, 14:34
cooperman.223
Thanks for the help lads, i was thinking that if my rifle shoots a 3/4 group now, then how much would it improve if it were bedded ?, could it make the rifle shoot 1/2"groups. At the end of the day we all want to get the best we can from our equipment.


Work is the curse of the shooting man.
10 November 2006, 14:47
vapodog
I've yet to see a glass bedded and free floated rifle shoot worse after bedding.....but your rifle at 3/4" might be a first. If it was mine, I'd be shooting prairie dogs right now.


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10 November 2006, 16:52
Don Slater
quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
I've yet to see a glass bedded and free floated rifle shoot worse after bedding.....but your rifle at 3/4" might be a first. If it was mine, I'd be shooting prairie dogs right now.



Yep. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! stir
10 November 2006, 18:42
Glen71
quote:
Yep. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! stir

Since the rifle is shooting rather well now, study up on bedding techniques and materials before you mess with it. As others have said, a proper bedding job won't hurt accuracy. A botched job could.
11 November 2006, 04:43
cooperman.223
OK point taken. cheers


Work is the curse of the shooting man.