Bedding question--to bed the shank, or not bed the shank

[JimmyHoffa]

Well the barrel is sitting in the bedded stock drying.  Took a few hours to prep everything.  If you don't hear from me for a few days, the release agent didn't work, and my brand new stock is toast    or permanently attached to my action.  Waxed everything twice so praying it works as planned.   Its only my second bed job, so I am not feeling overly confident.

if it does stick, you can put it in the freezer to help release it

[Crunchy]

Good back up plan.  Hope not to need it.  Find out tomorrow.

[Bill W]

Well the barrel is sitting in the bedded stock drying.  Took a few hours to prep everything.  If you don't hear from me for a few days, the release agent didn't work, and my brand new stock is toast    or permanently attached to my action.  Waxed everything twice so praying it works as planned.   Its only my second bed job, so I am not feeling overly confident.

I bought a .30/06 that someone glued together (no release agent) and it was an excellent shooter until I needed to pull the action from the stock.  I pushed it back together afterwards and it had a lot of stress.  Shot poor groups.   I wouldn't hesitate to glue one together again, provided I didn't need to pull it apart later.

[Crunchy]

Came apart with a little encouragement.  Only one scare which was the front action screw.  It had pushed some epoxy into the action when I screwed it in.  Although I waxed the screw and threads I didnt even try to wax the interior of the action.  Lucky for me one tap with a punch through the action screw hole and it popped right out.  Spent the next few hours with chisels, files, and dremel.  Would have been super easy with a mill.  Looks great, just need to touch up two spots.

[jasnt]

I like to fill my thread holes with wax. Much rather push wax in the action than bedding. 

[Crunchy]

Yeah, I wish I had done that but all turned out ok.  Could have been a disaster.   

[wooltie]

Mine just arrived.  Looks like I will need to buy a dremel to remove some material around the rear tang and bolt release lever/spring.  Need to remove some material around the bottom metal so its easier to install.  My barrel also isn't floated underneath the shank.

Will need to cut the pillars to size and install the pillars as well.

Overall finish and construction is nice, just isn't exactly 'drop in' ready.

[Crunchy]

Looks Purdy.  Drop in ready means its close enough for government work Swamp camo?

[wooltie]

Looks Purdy.  Drop in ready means its close enough for government work Swamp camo?

It wouldn't drop in actually. I had to remove material around the rear Tang to allow the bolt release pin to clear. Then removed material around the barrel shank to allow the barrel to sit and float.