Rifle bedding issue?

[timberhunter]

Is this enough to cause grouping issues? It is only contacting on the sides of the pillars and you can see there is a very small spot in front of the lug that has showed up where it is touching the barrel. The rifle is a kimber Montana in .308. I have around 70 rounds through it now and cannot seem to find anything it will shoot consistently. Will often put a couple inside an inch but then one will usually land around an inch and a half or two inches at 100 yards. Shooting from a table and using a nest rest. Have tried federal premium 165 gr.  trophy bonded, federal premium 150 gr. Accubonds, federal premium 165 gr. terminal ascent, nosler trophy grade 165 accubond and federal blue box 150  gr. Soft points. The blue box seem to shoot the best but not by much. They are all pretty consistent in group size. Talleys are bedded to the action, lapped, and torqued with loctite. Action screws are torqued to spec. Have checked the usual, mag well moves freely, no base screws or action screws are bottomed out although there is a shiny spot in the bottom of the action screw hole. Was about a full turn of clearance so I’m not sure where it came from. I did take a little off the screw and now have about a thread and a have of clearance when action is torqued.  While I had it apart I did lighten the trigger. Will shoot some more tomorrow to see if that helps. I also have some 150 interlocks to try although I would like to find a bonded bullet it will shoot. Have had two different scopes that netted the same results.

[timberhunter]

I can’t get the other pics to load but the front pillar is contacting just like the tang is.

[Magnum_Willys]

Shortened scrw and got another 1/2 turn?  Keep shortening unil you don’t get any more turn.

What are you using for a rear rest?

Can’t tell from pic but if bedded lug and barrel in front of lug touching is not an issue - many bed 1-2” in front of lug.   If barrel touching before lug thats an issue.

[timberhunter]

I wasn’t very clear about the action screw. There is now about a thread and a half of clearance when it’s all together. I would get another turn and a half on the screw before it bottomed out if the stock wasn’t on it. Been using birch wood Casey nest rest. They seem pretty solid but I will take the lead sled this time. No bedding around the lug. Only points of contact are top of pillars back of lug and the one small spot in front of the lug on the stock where it’s made a small mark on the paint.

[opdinkslayer]

It’s a Kimber & the odds are against you that you will get one that shoots good

[timberhunter]

Thinking I should have bought the x bolt. It was a toss up between the two but settled on the kimber because of the controlled feed and the safety position were the same as my Ruger m77. First two shoots fired from the rifle today are close to 4 inches apart. Im now waiting on the thin barrel to cool before the third.

[hogslayer]

That’s very big for a .308.  I would be looking into my scope and rings to see if that’s an issue.  The bedding looks fine to me.

[buckfvr]

Dumb question but have you slid a piece of paper/dollar bill between stock and barrel all the way to the recoil lug ?  Any contact can/may cause the barrel to walk one way or the other as it heats up.

[timberhunter]

It’s a brand new vx3 but will probably try another just to see.

Plenty of room between forend and barrel all the way til you get the chamber. Dollar bill doesn’t slide the last couple inches to the lug. In the top pic you can see the light colored spot just in front of the lug. It is definitely touching the barrel there. Seems to me the chamber should be making 100percent contact in the stock or none at all?

[broadhead]

Can you take a Dremel or a file or sandpaper and remove the area on the contact point? Even if it didn't work you could still restore it with something simple like JB Weld or other similar product that adheres to the stock and fills in whatever you remove later on. Just some ideas. For me, it's hard to tell what is going on with the photos but believe you 

[timberhunter]

Here is a better photo. It’s making contact just in front of the lug in a very small spot and along the top edge of stock along the chamber. Hope that makes sense.

I have a dremel and could take it down a little. Wanted to hear from some other folks if they thought those contact points could cause issues. If I was convinced it was the problem I would take care of them but once I do that I’m sure I will void any warranty.

[broadhead]

Yeah I suppose that could mess up barrel harmonics. If you think it's causing the issue contact the manufacturer first if wondering about warranty

[buckfvr]

Id clean it up, also Talley does NOT recommend lapping so I hope you used a professional lapping tool with alignment bar.  The mark appears off center so Id take it down. 

[broadhead]

You could lay down some masking tape to the stock and attach the rifle again. See all "potential" contact points on the tape after removal if they leave marks. But tape could highlight some points that are not currently a problem as well.. Ok done with ideas here.

[timberhunter]

Used the wheeler kit that’s actually in the pic. Not sure if it’s professional, I am not! Haha. I have lapped several sets of various rings. Have done two sets of Talley light weights with bases. Both needed work to get them to 75 percent contact. Interlocks and tipped core lokts turned out 5 shot 2” groups today. I will try some of the ideas mentioned but will leave it how it is for bear season. Will also call kimber and see what they have to say.