To Bed or not to bed?

Donald Stiles · May 3, 2000, 07:33 PM

I have bought a new Ruger 77 MKII VT with the laminated stock in 22 PPC cal. I am interested in glass bedding or floating the barrel. Any response will be greatly appreciated

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Donald Stiles

HankL · May 3, 2000, 08:51 PM

Hey Donald. The barrel should already be floated and in the laminated stock it should be pretty close to home. Clean the barrel, take it out and shoot it and let us know how it all worked out. I have one in 308 and have never felt the need to mess with it.
Regards

George Stringer · May 3, 2000, 09:52 PM

Donald, if you aren't happy with the accuracy then by all means bed it. I can't recall ever seeing a rifle shoot worse after being properly bedded. But as Hank says, shoot it first. It may be more than satisfactory as is. George

freestate · May 4, 2000, 09:27 AM

I've only bedded two rifles in my life and boy, what a difference it made to both. My most recent, a Remington 700 BDL in 7 Rem mag recently shot one large hole with 5 shots that measured .446". This was with factory Remington 150 grain ballistic tip ammo. Unless done improperly, I don't see how bedding will hurt.

bthrel · May 4, 2000, 10:41 AM

I'm currently asking myself the same question. I have a Rem 700VLS in 6mm that shoots all around 1 inch (both sides) at 100 yards. Its one of the new ones with the pressure point at the front of the forearm. I have been tossing around the idea of removing the pressure point and beding the action. Seems like its easy enougth to do but since it would be my first attempt I'm still thinking.

Good Shooting

Brian

Art Eatman · May 4, 2000, 06:23 PM

bthrel: If the pressure point is the only thing touching the barrel, forward of the receiver, then you're free-floated.

If the pressure point is adjustable (If it ain't, make it so!), then back it off until it barely touches the barrel. Adjust it tighter no more than, say, 1/4 turn.

See if that doesn't help a bit. With Federal ammo loaded with the Sierra bullet, you should be getting 1/2" groups or better.

FWIW, Art

ChrisMkIV · May 5, 2000, 01:37 AM

I will only repeat what I have heard from my gunsmith, "the first step to accurizing your rifle is to steel bed it, then go from there, from there you have a foundation to build on"

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"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, becuse the whole body of the people are armed"
Noah Webster

Dave McC · May 5, 2000, 10:00 AM

I'm no pro gnsmith, just a guy that likes to work on his toys. I bed everything, from 10-22s to muzzleloaders,and it pays off.
Last one I did was a Model 700 SSMR in 30-06. Groups were so-so until I bedded the action and free-floated the bbl,then tightened up to sub MOA with a variety of loads.

Bedding the forearm on my TC High Plains Sporter shrank the groups at 50 yards from 3"+ to around 2" with a heavy load. The deer I've shot with it have no cause to complain about its accuracy/effectiveness.

Bedding is not rocket science,follow directions and take your time. It'll work out fine..

May 3, 2000, 07:33 PM	#1
Donald Stiles Junior Member Join Date: May 2, 2000 Location: Cedar Springs Michigan USA Posts: 1	I have bought a new Ruger 77 MKII VT with the laminated stock in 22 PPC cal. I am interested in glass bedding or floating the barrel. Any response will be greatly appreciated ------------------ Donald Stiles

May 3, 2000, 08:51 PM	#2
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	Hey Donald. The barrel should already be floated and in the laminated stock it should be pretty close to home. Clean the barrel, take it out and shoot it and let us know how it all worked out. I have one in 308 and have never felt the need to mess with it. Regards

May 3, 2000, 09:52 PM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Donald, if you aren't happy with the accuracy then by all means bed it. I can't recall ever seeing a rifle shoot worse after being properly bedded. But as Hank says, shoot it first. It may be more than satisfactory as is. George

May 4, 2000, 09:27 AM	#4
freestate Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 35	I've only bedded two rifles in my life and boy, what a difference it made to both. My most recent, a Remington 700 BDL in 7 Rem mag recently shot one large hole with 5 shots that measured .446". This was with factory Remington 150 grain ballistic tip ammo. Unless done improperly, I don't see how bedding will hurt.

May 4, 2000, 10:41 AM	#5
bthrel Junior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Alabama Posts: 6	I'm currently asking myself the same question. I have a Rem 700VLS in 6mm that shoots all around 1 inch (both sides) at 100 yards. Its one of the new ones with the pressure point at the front of the forearm. I have been tossing around the idea of removing the pressure point and beding the action. Seems like its easy enougth to do but since it would be my first attempt I'm still thinking. Good Shooting Brian

May 4, 2000, 06:23 PM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	bthrel: If the pressure point is the only thing touching the barrel, forward of the receiver, then you're free-floated. If the pressure point is adjustable (If it ain't, make it so!), then back it off until it barely touches the barrel. Adjust it tighter no more than, say, 1/4 turn. See if that doesn't help a bit. With Federal ammo loaded with the Sierra bullet, you should be getting 1/2" groups or better. FWIW, Art

May 5, 2000, 01:37 AM	#7
ChrisMkIV Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Location: The Colony,Tx Posts: 338	I will only repeat what I have heard from my gunsmith, "the first step to accurizing your rifle is to steel bed it, then go from there, from there you have a foundation to build on" ------------------ "The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, becuse the whole body of the people are armed" Noah Webster

May 5, 2000, 10:00 AM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	I'm no pro gnsmith, just a guy that likes to work on his toys. I bed everything, from 10-22s to muzzleloaders,and it pays off. Last one I did was a Model 700 SSMR in 30-06. Groups were so-so until I bedded the action and free-floated the bbl,then tightened up to sub MOA with a variety of loads. Bedding the forearm on my TC High Plains Sporter shrank the groups at 50 yards from 3"+ to around 2" with a heavy load. The deer I've shot with it have no cause to complain about its accuracy/effectiveness. Bedding is not rocket science,follow directions and take your time. It'll work out fine..