I bought a Boyds VIP Laminate stock for my Ruger 338 WM and want to know should I glass bed it or free float or just install and shoot? Some advice would be greatly appreciated and tips. Thanks!

i tend to always bed, even if just recoil surfaces and the shank of the barrel
j

The VIP I got for a Mauser NEEDED to be bedded. I could have thrown a cat through the gap between the recoil lug and the lug mortice.

I have yet to see a pre-inletted stock that wouldn’t benefit from a good bedding job to “truly†mate the barreled action to the stock.

Bedding the action is part of the fun of restocking a rifle.

If you have never done it, Why not - it is relitively easy and a fun project.

There are good, simple kits you can get that don't cost much and have enuff bedding to do 2 rifles usually.

So get to it.

Let the fun begin!!

quote:

Originally posted by hunting1:
I bought a Boyds VIP Laminate stock for my Ruger 338 WM and want to know should I glass bed it or free float or just install and shoot? Some advice would be greatly appreciated and tips. Thanks!

I have the same stock for a Mark X Mauser on order from Boyds. Were you satisfied with the form and fit of yours? As far as your question goes, if I were you, I'd bed it.

Allright I am ready to bed it, but should I free float the barrel as well? It fits very well, but I need to remove a little around the taper in the barrel. How much should be removed? Just so that it fits or enough to run a dollar around it? Thanks and it is very well made and cut.

Take out enough of the barrel channel so you can run a note card around the barrel. Be sure to finish the channel. You can always bed the tip or shim it up with aluminum foil if need be. However, I have a 7 Rem that I full glass bedded the whole barrel channel in a fit of pique and it shoots great, plus the stock has stayed zeroed for about 25 years. It will shoot into an inch all day.

Wekk I did it! I just hope it comes out tomorrow. It was not that bad, just hope it works well and I can get it out. I used a bunch of anti seize. I bedded the rear lug and the front up to about 1 1/2 of the barrel. I pluggede the screw holes, so I have to get it out. Thanks!

quote:

Allright I am ready to bed it, but should I free float the barrel as well?

Yup....why not?

The Boyds JRS laminate on my 458 definately had to be bedded. The action and second recoil lug are bedded and the barrel free floated.