I just received two barreled actions from PacNor and I am ready to assemble my tactical toys. Both will sit in McMillian A5s. One is a 233AI, the other is a 6.5-284. Both rifles have #7 contour barrels. My question is how should I bed them? The barrels are really heavy so I am not sure about fully floating the barrels. Should I bed 4 inches of the barrel? Should I full lenth bed the barrels?

WSMAN
I wont hurt to bed 4 to 6 inches of the barrel shank.
Charlie

I would float them all the way. Too often, bedding of the barrel shank has given me problems with vertical dispersion. Keep in mind, you are not hanging 50 pounds off the fron of your action but only around 7 or 8. It's not a big deal except in the mind of the shooter. GD

With heavy barrels like yours I'd bed 2 or 3 inches in front of the recoil lug, and float the rest, works for me.......

Ditto-- I usually bed the first 2-3"...

We don't bed any of the barrel. Free float the thing all the way.
A-5's are plenty stiff enough in the forend to not need any barrel bedding.
Also make sure to bed only the front face of the recoil lug. Tape the sides bottom and muzzle facing areas. We use electrical tape, usually two layers.

Thanks for the input guys but I still don't know what to do since everyone has a different opinion on the subject.

mcmillian,
Your A5s are great stocks. But I have a question regarding your comments. You cite forearm stiffness as a factor against barrel bedding. I always felt that forearm stiffness was a factor in favor of some barrel bedding since the forearm was less likely to assert upward pressure on the barrel. Are you saying that some of the barrel should be bedded when the stock is less stiff?

If the forend of the stock was flimsy enough to rest on the bottom of the barrel when shooting over something, or if it slaps the forend as the rifle recoils, then performance would most likely be effected negatively. By bedding say the first 6 inches of the barrel you might be able to stiffen the forend enough to give it some stability and keep it away from the rest of the barrel. We don't have that problem with any of our stocks, not even the hunting stocks with smaller forends.

FYI, any stock forend will appear flimsy if you reach up and squeeze the forend and barrel together. There isn't a stock on the market including some all aluminum stocks I have seen that won't do that. It's just not a good test. Either is hitting the bottom of the forend with the palm of your hand to see if it hits the barrel. They all will. What is a good test is to lay the rifle over a sandbag or pedistal and get behind it. By laying on it you will see the crosshairs move. How much they move is an indication of how much the forend flexes. It's also a good indicator of how inconsistant the shooter is when holding the rifle.

IMHO,it's pretty hard to piss a #7 contour off,assuming a lick of sense.

It'll shoot well floated forward of the lug,with a pad beneath the shank or FL bedded. Pick your poison,but choose one side of the fence.

The only "fickle" issues you'll experience,is with a "tweener". If you float,mean it. Factor in how you'll drive the rifle...meaning how it will be supported and engineer in enough "float",that the stock CAIN'T ever touch the tube. That'll grant you latitude.

On some rifles I expressly drive a bipod and with the stud forward on the handle,one can leverage "flex" rather easily,if of a mind to do so. You can do the same with a sling,if you like 'em cinched at 90psi. Those are obvious extremes,but if one factors extremes into the equation,the rest is dick.

Some think FL bedding is a dirty word,but I'm not of that establishment. I've got FL bedded rifles from sub #1 contour to straight 1.350" bull,that will dazzle day in and day out. Fact is,my favoritest stuff is largely FL bedded.

I've some tubes floated from the lug forward and others with a 2" pad beneath the shank,that deal dazzles(Technical Term) with equal enthusiasm.

They've some things in common,a McMillan handle,a FULLY captured recoil lug and Leupie glass.

Your mileage may vary.......................

Kelly,

What gap do you recommend between the barrel and stock for your hunting stocks? Do you suggest a larger one when a bipod will be used?