bedding an action... update

brickmaster1248

i have a savage 110fp in 25-06 that i am currently having the action bedded. my question is this how much if any will change as far as accuracy of the rifle? the rifle already shoots 3/8 or less with handloads. my next question is could it hurt anything?

i got my rifle back with my newly bedded action. i took it to the range and nothing seemed to not have changed much other than the point of impact is about 2 inches higher . the groups are still about the same. i shot it 30 times in 5 shot groups at 100 yards so my next question is, is it possible i would be able to tell it has helped at farther ranges like at 2 or 3 hundred yards? i have never shot the rifle at anything further than this so i will not have any groups to compare it too.

jbw1776

If your already getting sub-MOA groups, if it does shoot better you're likely not going to notice it all that much.

Ben

Mobuck

With groups like that, why bother?

Mtnlover

Doubt you'll see much improvement over the already excellent groups. It will likely maintain that through a longer life and maybe in wet/dry conditions better. It's possible that you may have to fine tune your handloads if the bedding alters the barrel vibration patterns.

jbw1776

Like stated above, as long as you don't change the barrels "harmonics" then it shouldn't hurt anything. If the barrel was touching anywhere before and it isn't now (floated), or if it was floated and now it's bedded up by the action then you may see a slight difference for better or worse. You'll just have to shoot it and see/tune accordingly. For what it's worth I bed all mine unless already bedded, especially on wood stocks.

Ben

nononsense

brickmaster1248,

"how much if any will change as far as accuracy of the rifle?"

We can't know, obviously and you won't know until you get the rifle back and shoot it. Then after you shoot it you may need to adjust your load.

"the rifle already shoots 3/8 or less with handloads."

All of the time as in each time you shoot it?

"my next question is could it hurt anything?"

Nope simply because you can always remove it if the bedding is incorrectly done or putting pressure somewhere where pressure shouldn't be.

Bedding an action creates a system whereby the rifle becomes consistent and repeatable. Bedding the action and action screws also relieves the stresses of tightening the action screws. Pillars are the best solution as opposed to just bedding the action.

If you follow the infamous recommendation of bedding the first inch (1") which is the barrel nut along with the action bedding, I suggest telling whomever is doing the job to forget bedding the barrel nut and any part of the barrel. The entire system of the barreled action will function better, consistent and repeatable, if the barrel is totally free floated.

It doesn't matter if the harmonics change anyway. There is more than one node of accuracy for every barrel. By bedding the action, you can take the barreled action in and out of the stock and it will return to the same place every time, eliminating this as a variable.

Best.

nononsense

brickmaster1248,

"so my next question is, is it possible i would be able to tell it has helped at farther ranges like at 2 or 3 hundred yards?"

Sounds like the bedding worked out O.K. Excellent!

Unfortunately no. Accuracy at separate yardages beyond your tests at 100 yards has to be shot at those distances. You can always hypothesize but you might get surprised.

Best.