glass bedding

[cpileri]

regarding glass bedding:
(a 10/22 specifically, but whatever)

I see 2 very distinct ways to approach it resulting in 2 very distinct goals.

One way is to bed the center of gravity, and support areas of the trigger guard, etc so as to leave no part of the barrel touching anything, i.e.
'free floating' the barrel to eliminate stress on it by glass bedding the receiver and support areas to the stock for increased stability.

or...

Glass bedding the whole length of metal to stock, making a solid (hopefully) and single unit that fires and recoils as a unit and also increases shot-to-shot consistency.

So which is it?
what have you done?
or have you at all? (a 3rd opinion is that its a big ol' hassle and to forget it!)
thanks,
C-

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

ultralight arms beds all of the metal, and that may be a more effective way to do things than free floating with very light barrels.


i free float unless there's a reason not to (like the rifle needs forend pressure)

 

[dfariswheel]

A number of the commercial builders bed the barrel, and free-float the receiver.

In the case of the 10/22, the aluminum receiver is too flexible to support the weight of a heavy barrel, so they use a number of barrel bedding methods, from pads at various points, to full-length bedding.
The receiver is simply allowed to float without touching the stock.