whats a bedded stock?

[aglass1987]

i was wondering what a bedded stock was and what it was for? i hear it makes the rifle more accurate??? how can you tell if a stock is bedded??

[Graybeard]

Too simplistic and you fail to understand the terminology used.

ALL stocks on ALL rifles are bedded. That merely means it has been cut out to accept the barrelled action into the stock. The cutting out of wood to allow it is bedding.

Now there are different ways of doing it and that's really what you are asking about most likely.

Pillar bedding merely means pillars of usually aluminum are inserted into the stock and the screws that hold action and barrel in stock pass thru the pillars. Purpose is to prevent wood compression when tightening screws.

Glass bedding means the action and some or all of the barrel has a fiberglass resin inserted into the beded area and then the metal work with a release agent is set in and it's allowed to cure then the metal work is removed, cleaned and the rifle is put back together. This gives a near perfect fit between stock and metal.

There are also metal bedding blocks inserted into some stocks (mostly fiberglass ones) that are made to mate well with the action and thus give a solid and repeatable bedded surface.

Then you have the oldest which is just cutting out the wood to hopefully perfectly match the action contours and usually give a bit of free float space around the barrel.

Barrels might be completely floated or have pressure points like on Remington rifles.

It's a subject worthy of a thick book so it can't all be covered here.

Bottom line all rifles have their actions bedded into the stock.

[jvs]

I think Winman92 has been reading posts here on GBO and may have some questions about what most people refer to in here.  If he is just starting out, then Glass Bedding to Float the Barrel is probably the way to go.   I know when I do some bedding, I mean Glass Bedding.

For my part, I believe most do-it-yourselfers here would be referring to Glass Bedding for a Production rifle and may be the best way for Winman92 to start.  While there are some here on this website that have the knowledge and skills to do Pillar and/or Metal Bedding, I think Winman92 may be better off reading up on How to do Glass Bedding, and what the purpose and effects are.  In most cases a properly bedded stock, among other things, will improve accuracy.

Just punch   ' Glass Bedding Stocks '     in Google and I'm sure alot of websites will pop-up for you to read on the subject.