Well I need all of the precision rifle gurus help with something. I am wondering why some stock manufactures go with aluminum bedding blocks and others dont? I realize that with a stock with a bedding block the action still needs bedded. What is the benefit of going with a bedding block as opposed to not going with one? is an un-aluminum bedded stock from say Macmillan inferior?
Rifle stocks
- Thread starter Robmcleod82
- Start date
The "advantage" is that the aluminum cradle generically accomodates most Remington diameter actions, with the machining of the aluminum being already "true" to the action. Glass bedding requires carefully confining liquid bedding media to the areas where you want in with the stock and molding the bedding compound to the stock/action
My personal preference is a good fricton fit and close approximation with a glass bedded stock. Both are excellent systems.
My personal preference is a good fricton fit and close approximation with a glass bedded stock. Both are excellent systems.
The manufacturer must decide if the switch in production processes is worth the estimated sales increase. For some makers, changing would likely be a huge pita. The bedding block is not as good as properly bedded stock but it is significantly better than a non blocked stock that is not bedded. I prefer the aluminum bedding block but mine always get bedded regardless of what kind of stock it is. IMO, McMillan should switch to blocks.
Bedding blocks can work very well but it really depends on design. Any design, like H-S, that depends on the accuracy with which the action is made is prone to failure or maybe salvage by bedding. Actions like a 700 are anything but round and consistent. A design which does not rely on this has a much better chance of giving good accuracy. One of these based on the Barnard system which give a narrow contact surface on each side of the action requires a less accurate action. The Barnard system seems to shoot as well on a block or when bedded conventionally. The Barnard is an extremely accurately built action but the bedding concept would seem to work well with lesser actions as well. We have built many 100's of stocks per year for these as well with exceptional results.
