L42 Style Build

[tbonesmith]

Hi Guys,

I am having some issues with bedding the rifle. With the wood being a bit warped I couldn't get the barrel to sit in the centre of the barrel channel. Because the barrel is so fat, there isn't any wiggle room. I gave it a good run, but without glass bedding this forend is a bin-job. But we have the technology!

I have very good bearing on the draw and wrist but I needed to elevate the front of the action a bit and centre the barrel in the channel, so I taped the barrel at the front of the forend so is sat where I want it to, and bedded the front of the action and the knox, I put the trigger guard and screws in mainly to ensure alignment.

One thing to keep in mind if doing this is to "ENSURE THAT THERE ARE RELEASE ANGLES WHERE YOU APPLY YOUR BEDDING COMPOUND". Where I have been concerned about the lack of release angles I have created them with plasticine. With regard to release agent forget hair spray or WD40 or any other rubbish, just buy some "Mould Release Wax". The tin on the table cost about $25, 10 years ago and has released hundreds or articles from various moulds and will do me for another decade I expect. It is easy to use, economical, and thoroughly reliable.

The bedding material I prefer is a shop mix of epoxy resin and powdered aluminium, and the viscosity you are after is so that is will sag but not drip off an inverted scraper/stick. It should look wet, if it looks chalky or dry you have added too much powder.

Anyway I prefer to avoid this method on these types of rifles, but it works great and as I said this forend was stuffed for other methods, and could yet prove a failure...