Bedding bmag

colonel3006

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Ayton,ontario
I picked a new savage bmag 17 wsm last week even after all the accuracy issues I have read people have had, reading up on the caliber itself I just had to try one. Right off the bat I found I ended up with a bad magazine and rounds wouldn't chamber. Ended up getting a replacement which was good.
After breaking in somewhat by cleaning after every 3 rounds (I know I likely should be cleaning after every round to start) and putting 10 rounds through I was actually pretty happy with the accuracy. This one just has noodle barrel and was only firing 3 shot groups but getting 1-1 1/2" groups but every group was almost perfect level vertically but strings horizontal. I had never had groups like this before and it didn't seem to matter what I did ( adjusting trigger, moved bags further back under magazine, used solid one piece rest) same thing.
So I decided I would try bedding it. This is something I have never done before and just hoping I didn't end up wrecking anything. I seen a video where a guy had done this. Being as their is no type of recoil lug and hollow Tupperware stock I cut two small pieces of maple and sanded them down to fit in the first 2 hollow cavities closest to the chamber and epoxied them in.
I then got some jb quik weld for the bedding job. After scuffing up that area and around the back under safety I gave everything a good spray of Hornady one shot as a release agent. I put just a dab of jb in the back around rear action action screw and globbed in on top of my maple pieces and assembled back together. With the 3 rings that are factory cut into the barrel in this area, the jb formed into them giving it kinda a recoil lug.
After letting set up for about 20 hours I broke it all apart and it really turned out great. I've only tried one group at 50 ydsbut ended up shooting a group measured .228. I know it's only one group, but every group before bedding was strung horizontal and first one after was nice little cloverleaf. Just thought I would share if any bmag owners are having accuracy issues. It has definitely helped mine out.
 
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Tried a rubber pad up and down the channel and also tried a couple o rings in different spots. Both at best kept results the same and in most areas made worse. I should've mentioned that before I did the bedding the barrel was closer to left side of forend. I did use sandpaper on a deep socket to open up the channel but just moving the wrong way would make barrel closer to left side again. I know the biggest problem is the extremely flimsy stock. I wrapped the barrel in tape while bedding to make sure everything was centered. When putting back together before bedding there was a large amount of play (screws started but not tightened) between action and stock and you could move the action and barrel side to side, now the barrel is perfectly centered and there is no play. I thought at first the whole problem was the flimsy crappy stock but found 1/2 the issue was action not being stable, 1/2 is stock. Now that everything is true and centered, I might stiffen stock.
 
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A Boyds stock will solve the flex issues. How did the Hornady One Shot perform as a release agent?
The hornady worked great. I went with the Tupperware stock because of the weight. I'm having some medical issues right now with bad inflammation and pain which has made it difficult handling any of my heavier guns. I was actually going to buy the heavy fluted barrel with laminate stock but just didn't like weight. Figured if I can ever get this Crap straightened out I can upgrade to a boyds later down the road.
 
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