Bolt Guns And Bedding Barrels

Bolt Guns And Bedding Barrels

- Gil Sengel

It was not long ago that the hot topic among riflefolk looking to improve accuracy and eliminate those unexplained, out-of-group shots known as “flyers” was how the barrel fit in the stock. Was there contact between the barrel and forend? If so, where and how much? Should there be contact? Many rifle owners and all gun writers had their opinions. Then when plastic stocks began to appear, the experts blamed wood for all the world’s problems, declaring that no serious shooter should henceforth own a riflestock made from a tree. Good heavens!

Today we don’t hear much about barrel bedding. This is partly due to modern AR-15-looking, boltaction rifles having no contact at all between barrel and forearm. Thus there is no bedding surface, and they shoot very well, indeed.

Another factor is that several modern bolt guns come with accuracy guarantees, usually three shots in an inch or less at 100 yards. Even though purchasers never use the factory loads these rifles were tested with, the guarantee proves the company that put the rifles together knew what it was doing. Handloads are easily worked up to meet the accuracy claims. There is no need to fiddle with bedding.