First bedding project need a lil direction

[jeeptim]

For Christmas I was given a Mosin 91/30 looks to be unfired, going to change it up a bit ordered a ATI stock, Timney trigger, a drill and tap scope mount over the bolt, cuttung the bolt handle off and making and welding a new one on, removing front sight, removing rear sight fill and weld pin holes and grind and polish it smooth, cut and crown the barell to 22'' then dura coat it and install a simmons white tail scope.
My question is bedding the action and floating the barell I understand the action solid in the stock but should the barell make contact with the stock?
I ordered bedding compound but want to fully understand befor i start adding goop and pucky.
Thanx
Happy New Year!!!!!

 

[rcmodel]

There are at least three methods of bedding the barrel.

1. Free floated.
2. Pressure point at the forend tip.
3. Fully bedded.

You could bed the action and try it #1 free floated first.

If that isn't floating your boat?

Add cardboard shims at the end of the forearm for testing the #2 pressure point method.
If that makes an improvement, replace the shims with permanent bedding compound.

If not, #3, fully bed the barrel and try that.
If that doesn't work better then #1 or #2?

You can always grind it out and go back to free floated #1, or pressure point #2 again.

rc

 

[nashlaw]

Tim, not much more to say than rcmodel, but a helpful tip. When you start to bed your rifle, use lots of release agent. I use KIWI neutral shoe polish. Put one coat on all the metal that might remotely come in contact with the bedding compound and buff. Apply a second coat to get the nooks and crannies you might have missed on the first pass and do not buff. You don't want to gob it on, but make sure you have a nice, even and complete coat. Dip your action screws in KIWI or Johnson's Paste Wax and bolt it up. After a few hours when the compound is starting to harden, go back and break your screw loose a half turn or so. Nothing worse than having to call a friend with an impact wrench to get stuck screw out. I have bedded well over 50 rifles and last week I had to do just that.

 

[jeeptim]

Thank You R.C. always a wealth of information!!
Just want to be clear on why one proscess is better then an other.
I just planned on bedding from rear of action to front of the stock also looking into piller mounts.

 

[rcmodel]

For sure use metal pillers and glass action bedding.

Otherwise, action screw pressure will compress the glass reinforced nylon ATI stock over time and change your bedding / zero.

rc