From my bench: Pressure bedding fixed my accuracy problems on sporters

I had three hunting rifles come in with free-floated barrels that shot all over the place once they got hot. Putting a little pressure on the fore-end with bedding compound made them group tight again, even after multiple rounds. How do you handle bedding for lightweight barrels, or do you always free-float?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_gray2d ago

Man, that aluminum block trick @richard_anderson mentioned is the only way I'll set pressure now. Watched a guy at the range fight a light barrel for a whole summer, his groups walked with every shot. He finally bedded a little pressure up front and it shot like a different rifle, didn't even need to re-sight the thing.

the_eric2d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way myself. Used to think free floating was the only right answer for every rifle. Wound up with a few light barrels that walked shots like they were going for a stroll. Your fix with a little fore-end pressure is spot on for those skinny hunting barrels. I usually bed an inch or two ahead of the recoil lug now, lets it push down on a firm point. That aluminum block trick works great to set the pressure. Basically stopped fighting it and let the barrel do what it wants.

richard_anderson2d ago

Exactly... it's all about getting that same vibration every time. Once you find where the barrel wants to rest, just lock it in there and forget it.