Bedding compound question

T

TheM4chef

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Hi folks. I'm looking to do some bedding of my 700 308 and savage 223.
I'm using the oem stocks. The hogue and the savage stock (non accustock) aren't the greatest I know but funds are tight and I have to make due wroth what I have for the time being.

I'm going through the acklands catalog and there is devcon 5 min epoxy listed at 25.00 for 2.5oz

There is also plastic steel putty is 110.00 for 1lb

Jb weld seems to be good value 10oz for 26.50

Any other suggestions that might be available locally? Vancouver Island here.

Cheers
 
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you DON'T want 5-min epoxy :)

I use JB weld unless it is a heavy recoil gun.. then I splurge for Acra-glass (Rusty Wood Trading Co. has it for around $30 IIRC) Devcon brand is also popular from what I hear.

I have really wanted to try the putty style epoxies (the high metal fibre stuff for steel), but haven't had the chance. Would be good for guns like the M14 I would think.. with all thos pesky nooks and crannies you have to avoid in the rear action/trigger area.
 
Just about any compound listed for bedding is easily up to the job no matter what size the howitzer is. I use Marine Tex and I have bedded many many guns with it including fifties. If all you can find is JB then use it. I also suggest doing a test to be sure your release is up up to the job. For easily availability I suggest neutral Kiwi show polish, but test first! To use the Kiwi, cut a 1/2" brush short so it is quite stiff. Brush it in well and wipe off the excess and let dry. Do this three times. Remember JB is primarily an adhesive so it is sticky stuff and you want to be sure it will release. Don't use cooking spray etc. for release, the sign of the Yeti. Also to plug holes etc use Plastiseen not Play Doh and don't use masking take (paper) but do use plastic tape and cover it all with release.
 
I just finished a rifle using JB initially and finished with AcraGlas Steel bed. I used the JB with it being a little runny I could drizzle it around the pillars - then let them set in place and then used the AcraGlas for the bedding. Aero floor wax for a release and used 3 coats to be sure.
 
Please, don't ever pay ackland's crazy advertized prices!
I like marine-tex, about $50 for a lb, fairly easy to work with. Most boat related places have it, or you can get it from amazon for about the same price with free shipping usually.
 
Thanks for the advice you guys. I had read 5 min was not advisable and yes that wouldn't leave much working time.

As for the release agent I was thinking of trying pure lanoline I have a bunch for sizing my brass.

On a side note if I were to fill all the voids on the bottom of the stock would that help stiffen the fore end? I don't care about weight since I'm only shooting off the bench.
 
If you think you will most likely upgrade the stocks later on, I'd say just save your money and use JB Weld. That's what I used on my cheap Hogue stock. Just make sure you give the barrel enough clearance over the forend of the stock so it can't easily make contact under load. Just don't overdue it.

Shawn_338 said:
I use min wax paste wax for release its cheap and you can get it at any hardware store, I've never had a issue getting it a gun apart with it
Click to expand...

That's what I use as well. Also works great in rust prevention on metals.
 
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Ok Steve, but perhaps you and Ian could, for polite argument and interest sake, give estimates as to how many bedding jobs over career?

Relevant is that you both use Marine Tex and there is Mick McPhee, D. Sorenson and a few others that have done this forever(almost).

Best regards,

UL
 
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I have done two rifles now with Marine Tex and I will say although pricey, the pre set texture is perfect and it's about as hard and permanent a material you're ever going to find that hardens from a semi liquid.
You can repair boat hulls to make them sea worthy again with the stuff for christs sake!

That being said I have bedded my Mosin with JB weld two part epoxy with good results as well for much much cheaper.
 
I'd you're going to buy devcon putty don't buy it from acklands. It can be bought at many other places for half that price. The last I bought was 1 lb ofs teel putty from Gregg's distributors for about $50
 
One of the reasons I use Marine Tex is that the price is good. I can get a quart kit from Brownells for $66US and it works perfectly to bed any gun and it sticks well to alu that has been prepped properly as well as all the different stock materials (tupperwear excluded). In Canada you can buy it from boat shops. In Ottawa there is the chandlery shop which is also on line. Remember I said they have it, I have not compared prices. Also note that marine tex and Devcon are made by the same company. If you are close to the weight limit remember that steel bedding weighs like steel and is no stronger than the non steel varieties for bedding use.

Forgot to mention that whatever brand you use measure by weight never by volume. You can get a 1/10 gram scale for about $10 these days.
 
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