Pillar Bedding…again

[Dave Lakes]

I’m off on a multi-day trip and want to be able to remove my stock to dry everything out, then put it back without any major impact on accuracy. I’m not looking for F-class here, but acceptably close to zero to stalk again.

Would pillar bedding achieve this? Do I also need to glass bed, or would pillars alone do the job? If so, what’s a good pillar kit to buy?

I’m happy to do pillars on my own, but a glass job looks like money well spent at a gunsmith.

For info the rifle is a Sako AV L61R, original wood stock. Shoots inch groups at 100.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Experiment by shooting groups before and after removing rifle from stock and re-assembling. If you tighten the action screws by the same amount each time you may find your zero remains spot on.

K

 

[Dave Lakes]

Experiment by shooting groups before and after removing rifle from stock and re-assembling. If you tighten the action screws by the same amount each time you may find your zero remains spot on.

K

Good call Klench, I’ll give that a try first

 

[HonestJohn]

in a rifle not built for disassembly, i would never personally trust zero to remain after taking apart. always find myself taking at least one 'control/check' shot, then re tightening the action screws, then another one or two. its amazinf how little it takes for a rifle to change the POI.

you might be better just applying a thick wax and lube to the interior parts before a trip. i have had classic rifles in the highlands for 3-4 days at a time, getting as wet daily as standing in the shower, and upon return home, takinf apart for a peoper clean. never had rust or warping issues, the trick is how you trear the internal facing parts to reject water and damp for several days

 

[scotch_egg]

Use a torque wrench so you know exactly how tight you are going with the screws. Easy to crush a wooden stock without pillars.

In theory pillars will be sufficient as long at the action is also fully floated and there is no wood to swell and make contact. But if you are bothering with pillars glass bed it.

I have a very old. Browning A-bolt in fibreglass McMillan Stock. When I got it it was secondhand and had had a smidge of resin applied around the recoil lug. No pillars. Took it to Steve Kershaw as he had popped a 7-08 barrel on for me and I wanted it professionally sorting. He chocked up the barrel in a vice and put a gauge on the stock. This was many years ago or I would remember more and probably have a photo. His advice was go shoot it there is no movement when tight. It has shot real half inch groups for 15 years and been in and out of the stock numerous times. It’s the only rifle I won’t ever sell and I’ve got some nice kit if I do say so myself.

 

[nowler]

Torque wrench, 35in/lbs, check zero and crack on.

If you’re keen, you could then take it out and repeat and see what your level of precision/repeatability is……