Bedding the Barrel/Lug to the Action on 204

[McLernon]

Just completed the epoxy/aluminum bedding job. (I haven't tried getting it apart yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I had to clean-up the old mix that was in the epoxy kit. Boy was I surprised how hard the mix had set-up. The aluminum makes it VERY hard to even scrape let alone cut or trim. All that remains now is to fully bed the fore-stock.

AND THEN--------------------------------------------1/2 MOA(I hope)


Mc

[Fred M]

Mc.
Soldering or glueing four shims and fitting them got to be easier than what you
did. Hope you get the barrel out of the action. Else you have to bake the barreled action in the oven to melt the alu-epoxy.

[McLernon]

Hi Fred:

Hope you're up and about with your new equipment. Keep your jogging to 10 mph and keep to the left side of the road------------------eh!!!!!!!!!!

The barrel came out easily and a fine job it turned out to be. Snug as you like and hard as aluminum.

One more mod and I'm done.

I'll take to the range tomorrow to give it a try and post the results.


Regards

Mc

[DalesCarpentry]

I am looking forward to the results myself.

[McLernon]

Poor accuracy in spite of the mods---2MOA. I think it's the powder. I have been using BL-C(2) and getting badly flattened primers even with medium loads. I am switching to H335 with a medium load and work upward.

Mc

[quickdtoo]

Sometimes the results of our efforts just make us shake our heads!!! Keep at it Mc!!

Tim

[McLernon]

I just stumbled on a reloading error. I had my bullet sitting 0.010 inches off the rifling instead of 0.030inches, this may be the reason for the flattened primers and erratic accuracy. So I have pushed the bullets in a little further. Cross my fingers.


Mc

[Fred M]

MC
Is your forearm snug against the action. The barrel should not drop on its own when you open the gun. It should need a little help.

2" that is not so good even with real bad ammo.  How dimensional consistent is the bore?

[McLernon]

Hi Fred

I put a shim between the fore-stock and the spacer so it is pretty snug although the fore-stock is not yet bedded. The bore seems to be O.K. as far as I can tell from cleaning it. I am going to bed the fore-stock before my next range session and I am going to work up from medium loads to see what that reveals.

Mc

[Fred M]

Mc.
Just set the bedding up so you have uplift on both ends of the forearm when you tighten the screw. Like a post tensioned beam, putting both the barrel and
forearm under stress..

My experience with the small hot calibers is to push them hard. The 6ppc and the 6x47 are very happy with hot loads and so is the 30BR.