Impact of bedding a rifle on 'pet loads'

[Bishopus]

So I have a .308 that I want to get bedded, but I've already done some load development that I'd just as soon not repeat.

After glass bedding, should I start load development from Square One, or assume that it's exactly the same rifle as far as load preference?

 

[t-star]

it may alter the point of impact, but it won't alter the pressure level to which you've built up- in other words, provided you're at a safe level, go ahead and shoot it- then you'll see if bedding improved it or not- some rifles it does, some not so much- if you're not happy with the way it shoots after bedding, try going up or down a grain- what you're really doing is varying the barrel harmonics

 

[martinbns]

What T-star said. I jut shot my 300 wn ma after bedding the recoil lug, it shoots about the same, but the POI was about 6 inches lower.

 

[303carbine]

bedding

I always bed about 2 inches of the chamber portion of the barrel and have had really good success.I have not done the recoil lug on any of my rifles because the chamber bedding always seems to work for me.

 

[maynard]

The reason for bedding is to get a perfect mating of the action to the stock. The sides bottom and front of the recoil lug should have clearence. One layer of tape on the sides and front and two layers on the bottom of the lug will provide enough when you bed the action. The barrel should be free floated. If the rifle does not shoot only then would you try bedding in front of the recoil lug, under the chamber or a pressure point in the barrel channel.

As stated the POI may change because you will have different barrel harmonics with the barrel now free floating. One advantage of bedding is the POI should not change if you remove the action from the stock and put it back in. There is a good chance your pet load will work, but you still may want to play with it a bit.