I'm geting ready to glass bed my mauser sporter in a few days. I intend to make a pillar for the rear action screw and just bed/reinforce the recoil lug up front using acraglass gell with stainless steel powder. I'll use my minilathe to make the pillar. I know a piece of tubing can work fine for this, but I have the technology and am a perfectionist. Anyway, I also know its generally considered best to make the pillar bore wider than the screw, so recoil and action flex don't create inconsistency. Despite all this, I have a strong urge to make the pillar bore a tight fit to the action screw. Tighter tolerances are always better right? Might it actually be better for consistency? Please set me straight. Whats the best bore diameter? Thanks a lot - John

i use pillers with a hole .025" larger than the action screw.

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Death Before Dishonor

You do not want the screw to touch the pillar, it can "share" some of the recoil that should be taken up by the recoil lug if it touches the pillar. In addition to the big bore DGR's, I build match rifles, and I ream (yup, drill a bit smaller then use a reamer) the pillars to 5/16" I.D. On the Mausers, I turn the rear pillar OD to 1/2", ream the I.D. to 5/16", and counterbore for the tang projection. I use 416SS for the pillars. Don't forget to use a parting tool and put in some glue grooves on the O.D.

Perfection and tight tolerances have their place in gun building, but you gotta have room in the right places.

Be sure on the Mauser front "integral pillar" that it does not have a gap when bedding.

For M700's, M70's, etc, I make the front pillar 9/16" OD, larger on some match rifles and oversize stocks, depends on the application.

I have special clamping T-handle screws with a 5/16" diameter shank, and threaded to fit the 1/4" receiver screw holes, that clamp the pillars to the action when installing and gluing the pillars in the stock. This keeps averything aligned. Install pillars first, then bed.

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[This message has been edited by John Ricks (edited 03-07-2002).]

Thanks for the responses. I'll try boring them to 5/16". Great idea on making the oversized screw for pillar installation. I think I'll make one of those too. John, when you bore a recess for the tang projection, is that a tight fit or oversized as well? Thanks again - John