Changes After Bedding Recoil Lug

General RE LEE · Saturday at 1:41 PM

My Howa Mini is a good fit in my B&C M40 stock, except a little bit forward and back slop.

I bedded the recoil lug with JB Weld and shot a load that's always been kinda average. There was a noticeable improvement in dispersion. Load went from 1.25 typical to 0.75 MOA. I was excited until I shot a pet load that's unexpectedly opened up.

Anyone have to tweak their loads after bedding? BTW the epoxy spread into front of the recoil lug. It doesn't extend beyond the chamber portion. I only taped off the bottom of the lug so it's now a tight fit.

just_jon · Saturday at 2:08 PM

Happened to me once when I forgot to put electrical tape on the barrel near the forend to ensure proper alignment of the barrel and barrel channel. This caused just enough contact to effect accuracy.

General RE LEE · Saturday at 2:14 PM

just_jon said:
Happened to me once when I forgot to put electrical tape on the barrel near the forend to ensure proper alignment of the barrel and barrel channel. This caused just enough contact to effect accuracy.

It's free floated and centered, but I'm debating taking out the bedding in front of lug.

I'll load up that load that showed immediate promise after bedding. If it's consistently sub MOA with good SD/ES, I'll roll with it and not touch anything.

Rodbolt · Saturday at 3:12 PM

Here is the inexpensive but necessary tool to check for bedding issues. Add your own dial indicator and you'll know in minutes if your bedding right or needs help.

Rifle Action Bedding Checker | eBay

This version works on most barrels including 1.25" F-Class barrels. This is a new version that I think is easier to attach by reducing the number of screws and the ability to. The indicator is not included.

www.ebay.com

Idaho Lefty · Saturday at 3:22 PM

I ALWAYS Bed about, an inch or so of the Barrels "Shank Portion" of the Barrel,. as it Help's to, Support any of the Heavier Barrels from "Sagging" !
And hold's Action "Flexing" to,.. a Minimum.
I'd Re-Shoot your "Pet load" as it was probably NOT, a good,.. "Sample group" or, something Else, is going On ??
A Good Bedding Job usually, improves All, Loads / group's !
NEVER seen,. Otherwise and I've Bedded,.. a couple Hundred Rifles

dustbag · Saturday at 3:26 PM

I never bed in front of the recoil lug. I think you're doing it right by seeing how it repeats groups. People do it different ways with good results.

fseaman.js · Saturday at 4:17 PM

General RE LEE said:
Anyone have to tweak their loads after bedding?

Yup.

Looks perfect to me.

Laguna Freak · Saturday at 6:43 PM

General RE LEE said:
My Howa Mini is a good fit in my B&C M40 stock, except a little bit forward and back slop.

I bedded the recoil lug with JB Weld and shot a load that's always been kinda average. There was a noticeable improvement in dispersion. Load went from 1.25 typical to 0.75 MOA. I was excited until I shot a pet load that's unexpectedly opened up.

Anyone have to tweak their loads after bedding? BTW the epoxy spread into front of the recoil lug. It doesn't extend beyond the chamber portion. I only taped off the bottom of the lug so it's now a tight fit.

View attachment 638907

To what torque are you tightening the action screws? I would likely start with 35 lb-in on the front screw and 30 on the rear. Then if necessary, increase the front to as much as 45 lb-in and rear no more than equal to the front. I recommend you play around with torque values a bit before putting the Dremel to it. I think you can be pleasantly surprised by the PoI repeatability induced by this simple exercise.

General RE LEE · Saturday at 7:43 PM

Laguna Freak said:
To what torque are you tightening the action screws? I would likely start with 35 lb-in on the front screw and 30 on the rear. Then if necessary, increase the front to as much as 45 lb-in and rear no more than equal to the front. I recommend you play around with torque values a bit before putting the Dremel to it. I think you can be pleasantly surprised by the PoI repeatability induced by this simple exercise.

Unfortunately the bottom metal of Howa Minis is plastic and they recommend 35/in lbs max. I've heard of folks torquing higher and the plastic cracks.

Rflshootr · 2025-01-26T04:09:48-0600

General RE LEE said:
It's free floated and centered, but I'm debating taking out the bedding in front of lug.

I'll load up that load that showed immediate promise after bedding. If it's consistently sub MOA with good SD/ES, I'll roll with it and not touch anything.

View attachment 638936

View attachment 638937

That's what I'd do. It doesn't need to be there.

Rflshootr · 2025-01-26T04:12:01-0600

I really can't understand why people do 1/2 of a bedding job when they already have everything out and ready to go.
Each to their own, I guess.

Roughrice · 2025-01-26T04:58:59-0600

I agree with Rflshootr.
Now I would bed the tang area.
You may be creating some flex with uneven surfaces when torquing.

Rflshootr · 2025-01-26T05:26:23-0600

Not exactly what I had in mind. I'd cut the new bedding out and start over with a complete bedding job front to back and without a pad under the barrel.
There is an old saying....There is never time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over.

Roughrice · 2025-01-26T05:31:48-0600

Rflshootr said:
Not exactly what I had in mind. I'd cut the new bedding out and start over with a complete bedding job front to back and without a pad under the barrel.

Yes...Sorry for my lack of explanation in words... the entire receiver including the tang area.

Changes After Bedding Recoil Lug

General RE LEE

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just_jon

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General RE LEE

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Rodbolt

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Rifle Action Bedding Checker | eBay

Idaho Lefty

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dustbag

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fseaman.js

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Laguna Freak

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General RE LEE

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Rflshootr

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Rflshootr

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Roughrice

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Rflshootr

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Roughrice

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