A Bedding Pillar For Long Action Remingtons

When asked if I could duplicate Remington Model 40X target rifle accuracy with a run-of-the-mill caliber .260 Remington Model 700 long action rifle my answer was, "I can come very close." I got the job. Correct Procedure Gets Results Getting the green light to put the Remington long action into a different stock presented no problem. For this project a Bell & Carlson varmint/tactical stock was the choice. These stocks have a built-in aluminum bedding block throughout the receiver extending into the forend.

This alone would add to the action stiffness, but would not be enough to bring the action up to its highest accuracy potential. With the magazine cutout and the added length of a Model 700 action the extended barrel tends to add spring to the action. This is particularly true of varmint or target barrels. Here the proper use of a central action screw and bedding pillar can do wonders in additional stabilization. When a third (central) action screw is utilized, the bedding must be without flaw.

Where the bedding is low at center, the receiver springs downward as the central screw is torqued. The Model 70 Winchester is a good example of this with its full-size central screw. The Bell & Carlson aluminum bedding block has a very sturdy integral web lo cated immediately behind of the magazine cutout just forward of the trigger housing. This is a perfect position for a bedding pillar at the central action screw.

The challenging part is getting a precision fit between the underside of the radiused receiver and the stock web to form a perfect bridge. Making the Central Pillar I used aircraft aluminum for the bedding pillar due to its high strength and the ease with which the material can be machined. The finished, flat-base, half-moon-shaped part is 1.060" wide x 0.300" thick and is milled out to the exact diameter of the Model 700 Remington receiver.

A Woodruff keyseat cutter was used to form the radius of the bedding pillar. The part is carefully milled to exact receiver radius and is finished by lapping. Care must be taken to be sure the depth of the part from the extreme bottom of its radius to its contact with the aluminum bedding block isn’t cut too short. Individual rifle stock tolerance may vary a few thousandths. When finished the part measured 0.225" from the bottom of the radius to the flat bedding-block surface.

Placing a straight edge placed across these three receiver bedding supports and using a feeler gauge to test for contact accurately reveals how the central pillar is fitting. Ultimately, the part must form a precision fit when completed. It will be necessary to mill a few thousandths at a time off the flat surface of the

The threaded flat-head screw is later used to attach the pillar to the web on a Bell & Carlson stock. The standard floor plate equipped with rifle can also be used. pillar as the part is carefully fitted. In this project I am fitting the radiused central pillar to the exact plane of the tang at the rear and the receiver ring at the front. As the pillar is finished a countersunk flat head 6-32 screw is used to hold it in position. The pillar hole is threaded as this retaining screw enters from the underside.

This may seem like a lot of discussion over such a small part, but it is the heart of a bedding system in a three-screw action and is key in delivering improved accuracy on open-magazine, long-action Model 700 receivers. In addition to the pillar, a special brass floor plate with an attached lug allows the central screw to be torqued via the forward trigger guard screw hole.

As the three guard screws are tightened there should be no palpable action movement at any place between metal and wood on loosening or tightening of the screws. The smallest amount of such movement of the action is easily felt by the thumb or fingers and is an excellent way to test the actionto-stock fit in any rifle. Conclusions The real proof of bedding improvement lies in accuracy testing the finished product.

In this case, the .260 Remington grouping was improved from an average of 1.20" five-shot groups at 100 yards to an average of 0.542" with three different loads. Improved accuracy on a standard Model 700 Remington to that of a target rifle can be achieved and is worth the time, effort and cost of doing so. Careful inspection of the bedding around the recoil lug and rear tang, along with the addition of a central bedding pillar, is one of the best ways to accomplish this. AG