This is probably a stupid question but I don't know the answer so I am going to ask.

On a M-70 with the front screw into the barrel band, do you bed the barrel all the way from the action up to and including the band or what???

I would say that if you are wanting to bed the gun and you are using the forend screw, you might want to bed the entire length. Make it uniform all the way to the tip.

Is it common for folks to NOT use the fore-end screw in old M-70's. I just have one other and it is in place. It is one of the most accurate rifles I have.

There are folks who use the screw and there are folks who don't. I get a lot of the early M70 through here for one thing or another and if I had to make a bet, I would bet the majority are using the screw.

Most belong to older folks who probably don't know anything different and are generally content with their rifles performance. These folks aren't your typical varmint hunters hunters who are after pin point accuracy.

If your rifle shoots great with the barrel tied to the stock then the answer is easy, don't change a thing. How does this rifle that you are inquiring about shoot?

Do as Malm says and try it both ways. If you find it shoots better with the screw out, you can cut the screw short and glue the head in the hole in the stock. To me, that looks better than having an open hole in the stock.

I don't understand............
If it "is one of the most accurate rifles you have" then why on earth are you messing with the bedding?
Not trying to be a smartass just wondering what would posses a person to take a great shooting rifle and work on the bedding.

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I don't understand............
If it "is one of the most accurate rifles you have" then why on earth are you messing with the bedding?
Not trying to be a smartass just wondering what would posses a person to take a great shooting rifle and work on the bedding

Second that thought. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

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Originally posted by ramrod340:

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I don't understand............
If it "is one of the most accurate rifles you have" then why on earth are you messing with the bedding?
Not trying to be a smartass just wondering what would posses a person to take a great shooting rifle and work on the bedding

Second that thought. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

I'm gonna have to agree here. Also, and it may or may not be a concern to you, I'd have to say that glass bedding a pre '64 M70 will lessen it's value as a collectable in the future. Like it or not, pristine unaltered pre 64 M70's will never go down in price.

quote:

I don't understand............
If it "is one of the most accurate rifles you have" then why on earth are you messing with the bedding?
Not trying to be a smartass just wondering what would posses a person to take a great shooting rifle and work on the bedding.

Y'all are not reading the whole post above.

Westpac asked if I was using the fore-end screw. I told him that I didn't even know that you could leave it out. Then I said I have another rifle that is very very accurate and (maybe the most accurate that I own) that has the screw in place and I believe it is bedded all the way down the barrel channel.

The rifle I am thinking of bedding, I just bought. It is a .300 H&H in very good condition except the old laquer if flaking off of it so I want to refinish it to protect the wood. I am gonna keep it and hunt with it so if bedding is the best, that is what I am gonna do. That is the question I am asking along with how to bed a rifle with the fore-end screw in place.

I have not even shot it yet. Ordered some brass and dies last week. Should be able to test fire end of this week.

So, should I bed? And if so, do I bed the barrel?

Shoot it first with all in original configuration; if it meets your accuracy expectations don't bother bedding it.

If the accuracy does not meet your expectations decide for youself if you want to bed all the way to the tip of the forearm (my recommendation) or just reciever and an inch or so of the barrel, leaving the rest free-floated. If you decide to free-float do not use the forend barrel screw.

Sorry I didn't read it correctly and before I could respond again John covered it exactly how I would have responded.
Sorry for the mis-interpretation.

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Y'all are not reading the whole post above.

You are right I figured that out this morning after coffee.

With new understanding. I would also go with John's approach.