Pillar Bedding The Ruger Model 77 Rimfire Rifle

When fitting a custom barrel to the Ruger Model 77/17 bolt action rifle during a recent project turned out to be an excellent time to bed the action. The action on this rimfire is very similar to the firm’s popular Model 77 centerfire line which lends well to pillar bedding. You’ll have to make your own metal pillars to accomplish this, but this is very easy to do on a lathe.

The main action bearing surface on a Ruger Model 77 rimfire includes the rear tang and the forward action tang forming part of the removable barrel lockup. Both of these surfaces are flat, providing a perfect place for two 9/16-inch pillars. The stock is made of American walnut and the two bedding pillars surrounding both action screws are mortised into the stock with a 9/16-inch end mill.

A spade bit could be used but the end mill does a much neater and The 9/16" end mill is carefully centered over screw hole in stock. more precise job with perfect depth control. The two pillar holes are cut with the action held in the milling vise. It is important to have the stock held squarely and the holes perfectly centered around the action screw holes in the stock. Each hole is cut to a depth of 0.300-inches below the stock action bearing surface. There is some leeway here but this depth is 300" length.

close to ideal. The pillars bond into place at the sides as well as the bottom and set squarely beneath the action surfaces flush with the stock. Make and Install the Pillars With apiece of brass rod stock in the lathe, I turned the pillars to size, 9/16inches and left the pillar walls rough for better side bonding. A hole was then drilled into the extending rod one drill-size larger than the action screws to allow for clearance.

The formed pillars are then put into the stock holes one at a time and marked for length, leaving them just a bit overlength for final fitting. Finally, the pillars are carefully fitted flush with the stock-wood bedding surface. The pillars are now ready to be bonded into place. I used Brownell’s Steel-Bed to permanently set the pillars being sure all surfaces inside the hole had an adequate coating. A release agent is applied to the parts that contact the pillars, including the action screws.

The action is then put in place and the two screws just moderately tightened. After several hours the action can be removed from the stock. After bit of clean up the rifle is ready to go. It is wise to test for action springing, which indicates metal-to-wood stresses. This can be performed by alternately tightening and loosening the action screws while feeling for wood-to-metal movement with the thumb and forefinger. It is surpris Two brass pillars are installed in this walnut stock.

This makes a perfect two-point bedding system for a totally stress-free action-to-stock fit. ing how this simple, tactile test will reveal even the smallest amount of bedding imperfection. It is a dead giveaway for any suspicious stock bedding on any rifle. Conclusions Pillar bedding the Model 77 Ruger was most favorable. Accuracy with both the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire chamberings were noticeably improved.

Where accuracy improvement is an issue, pillar bedding should always be a consideration. AG