stock ?'s

[mnnate]

I've done some searching and am not satisfied with what I've found. Ok I've got a 700 SPS in 270wsm and really dislike the cheap syn. stock. I plan to swap out for a boyds or some other laminate stock. I am going this route to add some weight to the rifle to tame the recoil a bit and I prefer thumbhole stocks. Also hoping to improve accuracy a bit. My hand doesn't fit/feel right on std. contour stocks. My ? is would it be a good idea to bed the action right away? Also are there any disadvantages to laminate stocks? I have a mini 14 target and love the lam. stock on it. Also what exactly does bedding the stock do? I am sorry if this has been beat to death already but really appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

[dakotasin]

before you buy a boyds, check it to make sure it is comfy for you - especially through the thumb and palm. the boyd thumbhole stocks do not fit me well, and i have a strong dislike for them.

yes, it is a good idea to bed the action right away.

disadvantages to laminate is they are heavy, but that is about it. w/ a modicum of care, they are very stable stocks.

bedding the stock creates a very uniform, even, fully supported platform for the rifle to sit in. it has also become the best cure for sloppy inletting work on stocks.

after you get done bedding the stock, then float the barrel.

there are lebenty bajillion different ways to bed a stock. i bed the full length of the receiver. make a mark on the stock that corresponds w/ the approximate neck-shoulder juncture of a chambered round in the action, and bed from that point all the way to the tang. don't forget the rails of the receiver. be sure to remove all the finish in the area to be bedded, and use a dremel to create good mechanical locks. use some sort of dam at the front so you don't have the bedding creeping down the barrel. use an excess of release agent. i like to tape my action screws so they are centered in their holes. lots of masking tape on the edges of the stock so over run can easily be cleaned. start to finish before cure time will be about 45 minutes. i like about 48 hours of unmolested cure time after that. clean up will be about 45 minutes.

good luck!