Guys I had my rifle bedded by a gunsmith and when I took it to the range it shot worse. I had another rifle with me to verify it wasn't me. I took it apart and the only thing I could find was the trigger screw in the front was digging into the wood. Whether it was like that before or not I'm not sure. I have fixed that so is there anything else to look for. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 35 whelen. Help! I went from one inch groups to 1 3/4" groups.

Don't know if you are shooting reloads worked up before bedding, factory? If the rifle had a pressure point and is now free floated there is a good chance you will need to rework your load.

I concur with Paul, try a little load development before working the bedding over. Some rifles shoot better with free floating while others like upward pressure at the end while others like the barrel fully bedded. Sometimes takes quite a bit of experimentation to figure out what yours wants.

Myself, I would look the gun over first. If your gun was supposed to be free floated at the same time it was bedded, and the guy who did the free floating is the same guy who failed to cut clearance around a trigger adjustment screw, I would double check to make sure (A) the action isn't on a bind, and (B), that there is sufficient clearance around the barrel so there is no chance of contact between the forend and the barrel when you fire the gun. Once you are certain these areas ARE correct, then I would look at the loads.

Check that the action is stress free by loosening each guard screw in turn, while feeling the foreend tip at the barrel. If you feel movement as either screw is loosened, then the bedding is pulling the action into a stressed condition. Also do a paper strip test down the barrel groove in the stock, when screws are tight, to find if the stock presses on the barrel anywhere. Side pressure will give you wide sideways groups.

I forgot to mention that I did not have the barrel floated because it shot real good with the pressure on the barrel. I will go back and check for stress on the action but I sure didn't notice any when tightning the screws. It is possible my loads were off but these were loads from my hunt last year and they shot fine then. It sure sucks I can tell ya.

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I forgot to mention that I did not have the barrel floated because it shot real good with the pressure on the barrel. I will go back and check for stress on the action

I would guess the bedding had changed the effect of the pressure point. I've been there wishing I had left well enough alone.

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Originally posted by raybass:
I forgot to mention that I did not have the barrel floated because it shot real good with the pressure on the barrel. I will go back and check for stress on the action but I sure didn't notice any when tightning the screws. It is possible my loads were off but these were loads from my hunt last year and they shot fine then. It sure sucks I can tell ya.

I would bet Paul is correct in that the bedding changed the pressure on the barrel. At this point, I would recommend removing all the pressure by floating the barrel and going from there.

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Originally posted by raybass:
Guys I had my rifle bedded by a gunsmith and when I took it to the range it shot worse. I had another rifle with me to verify it wasn't me. I took it apart and the only thing I could find was the trigger screw in the front was digging into the wood. Whether it was like that before or not I'm not sure. I have fixed that so is there anything else to look for. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 35 whelen. Help! I went from one inch groups to 1 3/4" groups.

It was shooting 1" groups and what was the reason for messing with it?????

Float the barrel and if you really want you can add a bump after that.

However to think you was going to improve on 1" groups was a gutsy call.

Tell me about it, I wasn't trying to improve the groups but I was trying to make sure it stayed shooting that way. Live and learn I guess. Dang it. I'll get it shooting good again hopefully.

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Live and learn I guess.

Sure glad I never made a rifle shoot worse while trying to improve it. LOL

If anyone really believes that comment I have a bridge for sale.

quote:

Originally posted by raybass:
Guys I had my rifle bedded by a gunsmith and when I took it to the range it shot worse. I had another rifle with me to verify it wasn't me. I took it apart and the only thing I could find was the trigger screw in the front was digging into the wood. Whether it was like that before or not I'm not sure. I have fixed that so is there anything else to look for. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 35 whelen. Help! I went from one inch groups to 1 3/4" groups.

First thing you need to do is to remove the wood around the "trigger" screw to make sure it does not contact the stock. Any contact like this can cause an unrelated part of the action to act like another recoil lug and possibly prevent the original recoil lug from making solid contact.

Ray,

Like others above & yourself I've been in similar dilemas too - sorry about your Boomer.

All good advice above concerning the potential stress to the action & the barrel bedding issues.

The screw in the trigger touching isn't indicative of a well-thought through accuracy or stability "upgrade" though.....

IF the action is being streesed you can easily determine this like xs said above. That's where I'd start - the front & rear action screws; in an attmept to ensure the action is actually not binding as the screws are tightened up. This NOT an uncommon condition when a "Standard" or longer action is bedded as you'd be surprised at just how little pressure from the rear screw can bind an action not evenly bedded.

Thanks, I have releived the wood around that front screw on the trigger. I haven't had time but will check the action for stress and go from there. If there is no stress on the action I will float the barrel and do some load work. My hunting load was a 225 gr TSX @ 2730 fps, I hope I can get back there.

Ok fellas I took another look paying close attention to the action. I think I figured it out, when I tighten the forward action screw its like the action pulls down into the stock at that point. I can also see where the gunsmith took some wood out from the recoil lug forward about 3-4".
I think that the barrel was making contact at that point, therefore less pressure on the barrel at the forearm pressure point. I'm lost now as to how to fix it. More bedding?

What did your gunsmith tell you when you approached him with the problem?

You shouldn't be at a loss wondering how to fix it. That's what you hired the gunsmith for. You need to first contact him and give him a chance to correct the problem, if one exists, before worrying about anything else. If he refuses, or, cannot correct the problem, then you can hire another gunsmith to make the corrections, and if necessary, via a small claims court, have him reimburse you if he resists diplomacy.

Be aware, that it would be pretty tough for a gunsmith to guarantee that bedding a rifle, with a known history of accuracy, will not adversely affect that accuracy. But the gunsmith for damned sure can guarantee that his work is correct and that the action is not on a bind.

Additional barrel work, i.e., floating or bedding, and developing new loads is to be expected when trying to reestablish accuracy. But the basic bed should be sound. That he can and should guarantee.

I did not talk to him, yet, he was gone for the weekend to some kind of shooting match. I have since hopefully gotten somewhere with this, I floated the barrel today. It seems there was alot of pressure at the foreend and that may have been why it was pulling down so hard. I will be able to see the results tomorrow. During the week I will call the gunsmith about the problems I had. When I recieved the gun (brother picked it up) the front action screw was loose, when I tightened it I found out why.

The action locked up, after looking it over the shim (factory) that was under the floorplate was missing which let the screw go to deep and lodge against the bolt lugs. I had another shim and replaced it which solved the problem. As far as the bedding deal well I'm not sure who can be blamed for that. I think a better job could have been done on the rifle period. Maybe he made a mistake and was not finished. He'll get a chance to explain, whether I go back or not remains to be seen. I doubt it.
Thanks fellas

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Originally posted by raybass:
As far as the bedding deal well I'm not sure who can be blamed for that.

Are you serious?

By that I meant whether I should've had it bedded or not. I did find out the reason for the action pulling down was the pressure on the foreend. I have it free floated now and the action doesn't move when I loosen the screws. Now if I can get to the range to check it out. The gunsmith did warn me that it may not shoot as good but I still won't go back. I think another gunsmith is in order.

Raybass,

Also check that your action screws do not contact the sides of the hole & if they do its a simple matter of using a drill to relieve it.

Regards,
JohnT