Thread: free floating and bedding rifle stock at home

Kiaora
Left my wooden stock gun in the hotwater cupboard for a few weeks a few months back (before I knew any better) and I don't think it shoots as well any more.
I've run a piece of paper between stock and barrel and it is touching near the front of the stock.
I'm considering whether I should sand a bit off the stock where it touches up front and put it back together myself or just get a gunsmith to do it.

Is it difficult to put the action back into the stock or do you just screw it in?
My tool box is pretty much limited to a screwdriver and sand paper
Cheers
Tom

So the question is really how easy iis it to fuck up and how much will a gunsmith charge? I'm considering getting the barrel shortened a few cm anyway to gun smithing the rifle will not be the end of the world

A number of factory stocks have some upward pressure on the barrel. It can help with accuracy. but if the stock moves then the accuracy/consistency will change. Just screw it together and see how it shoots. If the accuracy is not there then I would bed the action and free float the barrel. Note that free floating the barrel won't necessarily make it more accurate, but it will make it more consistent as any cahnges in the stock will have less effect on the barrel.
A gunsmith will probably charge a couple of hundred to bed the action and float the barrel.

I had a crap shooter and was about to bin it. Bedded the action with Devcon (plenty of you tube vids) and then did the same paper test as you mention. Free floated the barrel by using sandpaper wrapped round appropriately sized dowel and was cautious not to remove too much wood. Sealed the raw wood, refitted steel and happy with 2 moa for a bush rifle (7.62x39).

As stug says if it wasnt free floated before it was most likely pressure bedded put it together and see. If its crap, dont try to fix it by tightening the action screws all that might happen is that you crack the stock. Either pay several hundred to someone else or have a look at nathan Fosters website terminal ballistics and look at the clip on how and why. Buy a bedding kit and diy.

thanks guys. I'm going to send it to the gunsmith for a shortening so will get him to have a look at it and see what he says then decide whether to do it myself or not.