Using a Stock-Drilling Jig For Pillar Bedding

Over the years, I’ve epoxy-bedded scores of rifle actions. With many of these, different forms of pillar-bedding were used. One form of pillar bedding involves the careful application of a cylindrical metal pillar that’s permanently bonded into an enlarged guard-screw hole in the stock. The guard screw then draws the action down against the bonded-in pillar. Pillars must form a microscopic fit to the receiver and be perfectly aligned with the action and the screw hole.

Simply enlarging the existing stock-screw hole with an unguided drill bit will almost surely lead to a poorly positioned hole’or even a ruined gunstock. I have successfully used a piloted countersink to cut the stock holes. The countersink fits over a thin shaft as a guide. This pilot is threaded at one end to fit a receiver guard-screw hole. This does a satisfactory job of fitting one pillar at a time.

Recently, however, Charley Robertso re High Gunsmithing introduced a stock-dr kes the job quick, easy, and perfectly precise. Score High also offers easy to install pillar-bedding kits that further simplify the job. Standard pillars are 5/8 inch in At the top is the lower rail. In the center is the top rail with holes for the drill bushings and the bushing lock-screw collars. At the bottom are the drill bushings, the 5/8-inch spade bit, and the tapered hole guide for stock alignment. diameter.

Pillars of 9/16-inch diameter are also available. (Anything larger than 5/8 inch would encroach laterally into the trigger-guard slot, which would show on the finished stock.) Of the two, the larger 5/8-inch pillar forms the more sturdy support. The Score High drilling jig takes care of everything. The jig comes in two lengths for the Remington Model 700, long or short action, both ADL and BDL, and Remington Model 40X.

The lower unit is put in position from below, joining the upper unit, and sandwiching the stock in between. A 1/4-20 socket-head screw holds these parts firmly in position. Before the final tightening of the retaining screw, a tapered pilot slides into the drill bushing to serve as a guide in aligning the drill bushing to the exact stock-

The T-handles hold the action precisely into the stock as the epoxy cures. hole center. This is very easily accomplished. The two drill bushings are then put in place by aligning them with the semi-circular notches in the drill-bushing flanges and are fingertightened with the knurled knobs. At this stage, the pillar holes are ready to be drilled, and virtually anyone can perform the drilling operation.

A 5/8-inch spade bit is provided with the kit, with a blunt tip that bumps a set screw at the bottom of the blind hole as the cut is finished. I’ve never liked spade bits for drilling holes in wood. They tend to cut poorly or hog into the wood. With the precision drill guide on the jig, an endmill would do a perfect job. But it would be hard to make a mistake the way the pillar-bedding drill jig is setup, and the spade-bit arrangement provided here has worked very well for me on a number of walnut stocks.

It would work equally well on a syn- Far thetic stock or one made of any other species of wood. Installing the Pillars With the correctly spaced pillar holes drilled to exact size, and the drilling jig removed, the Score High bedding pillars can be bolted to the receiver. The pillars come in kit form, along with easy-to-follow directions. The annular grooved, adjustable, aluminum pillars fit exactly to the radius of a Remington Model 700 or 40X receiver.

The pillars are threaded inside with an adjustable screw base to fit flush with the stock, and are adjusted flush with the stock at the bottom plane where the floor plate and trigger guard fit in. Pass-through special internally threaded T-handles. Before the actual application of epoxy to hold the pillars in place, the action should be lowered into the stock to check for fit and to see if the adjustable pillars are flush with the triggerguard/floor plate mortise.

Trying the T-handles should be done at this time, too. After the epoxy has cured, the Thandles are removed, releasing the receiver from the stock. The bolts that held the pillars to the receiver can also be removed using the Allen wrench. The regular guard screws will now pass through the pillars, completing a solid and precise pillarbedding job you can be proud of. Conclusion Whether you’re pillar bedding one rifle or many, the use of a stock-drilling jig will save you time and ensure a perfect job.

It’s fast, easy, and well worth the modest cost of the jig. attachment bolts, fitted with a snap-ring to hold the pillars, are used to hold the pillars securely to the receiver. The 1/4-28 bolts are tightened in place with an Allen wrench that fits the tip of each bolt. These same bolts are later used to draw the action into the stock with the I