Mcmillan bedding job gone wrong

[Dosh]

I just bedded two McMillan stocks. Very easy to bed and only one 1/8" spot trimmed on lnletting for bottom metal

 

[shortgrass]

One more thing, a Dremel Tool is not a gunsmithing tool! It is nothing more than a "trouble maker", as the stockmaking instructor called it when I attended (and graduated!) from MCCs' 2 yr gunsmithing program.

 

[Gabriel Baker]

Just got my rifle back from the gunsmith. I had my tikka t3 .308 bedded in a Mcmillan gamehunter stock. When I got home and disassembled the stock I was lets just say angry. It appears an needless amount of material was removed from an already fully inleted stock and now there is a gap between my action and the stock where my bolt closes. I also spent over an hour cleaning compound off the barrel and even inside the action had serious debrie and all of this for the bargin price of $130. I would love some opinions on this because I am taking it back looking for a labor refund and the cost of a now worthless stock that I cant even resell in its current condition.

That gap looks like a factory McMillan flaw but the bedding job was not done by a true gunsmith it was a gun hack and my instructor would've kicked my a if I would've done that back in Gunsmithing school, even as a student learning. Sorry man!

 

[Gabriel Baker]

One more thing, a Dremel Tool is not a gunsmithing tool! It is nothing more than a "trouble maker", as the stockmaking instructor called it when I attended (and graduated!) from MCCs' 2 yr gunsmithing program.

Went there too sir.

 

[longrangebob]

Give the Guy a chance to replace the stock - but have new one bedded by someone who knows that they are doing - or do it yourself
If you are uncertain - cover the barreled action with vinyl tape & two layers everywhere except one @ the back of the Lug (make sure there are no voids in metal work that can be oozed into and spray it all with Epoxy Mould Release (or Pam Cooking Spray) - clean after with isopropyl alcohol I'm sure you'll be happy with the end result
Good Luck (consider small claims if he won't replace)

 

[shortgrass]

First off, as a gunsmith The stock is ruined, it is no longer a safe stock.

The stock is not ruined. It can be repaired by a competent gunsmith. I am not trying to be combative here. If I was, you'd know it. I bothered to go thru a 2yr accredited gunsmithing school. Stockmaking by hand , from a blank, was still taught then. Students were required 4 stocks by hand from a blank or about twice that many from a pre-inlets. I opted for the 4 from blanks. The pics posted show darned sloppy work, to say the very least. But ruined? I think not! As I have said, that 'mess' can be repaired and the action properly bedded. Curious as to your training that would have you say the stock is ruined. All I can see is some sloppy work, where no real structural damage has occurred . The gap under the bolt handle I commonly see from the Mc factory, and it would'n't be a structural issue, just cosmetic and a place for 'trash' to find its way into a place it's not supposed to be.

 

[25WSM]

First off I'm a master gunsmith graduating from PGS in 1992. Yes your bedding job looks horrendous. I would never ever put something like that out the door. It can be fixed easily. Also McMillan recommends their stocks to be bedded for best accuracy. I use my dremel all the time. Big time saver on many things. If you get your money back. I'll fix it for you for that amount and you can take the shipping out from that total. If he won't give you your money back I will fix it for you for free if you pay shipping both ways. If I was not a gunsmith I would box it up and send it to McMillan and let them fix it. Let's hope your non gunsmith refunds you. I hate when someone in my profession does stuff like that. I do free work all the time also 50% labor for all vets and first responders. Shep

 

[ShtrRdy]

There are many suggestions to have the "smith" replace the stock. If you go that route you will likely have to get a lawyer involved.

 

[Bob Wright]

Take it back to the butcher and ask them why this is a good job. Have them point out why this will shoot well. I would love to be there to hear this one. That crap in the pillars adds a couple of recoil lugs you cannot have. This was one angry dude.

 

[tooOld]

Just got my rifle back from the gunsmith. I had my tikka t3 .308 bedded in a Mcmillan gamehunter stock. When I got home and disassembled the stock I was lets just say angry. It appears an needless amount of material was removed from an already fully inleted stock and now there is a gap between my action and the stock where my bolt closes. I also spent over an hour cleaning compound off the barrel and even inside the action had serious debrie and all of this for the bargin price of $130. I would love some opinions on this because I am taking it back looking for a labor refund and the cost of a now worthless stock that I cant even resell in its current condition.

 

[SnowDingo]

Take it back and get a refund, send some pics to McMillan and find out if it's FUBAR. Find a new Smith

 

[tooOld]

Looks pretty rough. With that being said, I see no reason the stock isn't useable. The guard screw holes should be drilled out so the screws don't touch the stock (or bedding); the bolt handle should not hit the stock.

 

[Don A Parsons]

Wholly crap bat-man,,, that ain't any where close to a zero stress bedding job to allow the action to rest easy in all portions along the sides and bottom...

A quality bedding job is the filling to be smooth like glass and grip the action like the mold that made the action at the foundery...

My gun Smith friend in our parts charges $375 Cnd funds,,, the bad part about him working on them is trying to get the action out of the stock since there in there pretty tight... Ha...

I complemented him on a job well done since I can lessen the action screws to zero torque and still shoot a 1/2" moa group all day long... LOL

And yes,,, he carries the bedding material right up to the bolt lug area,,, attention to detail is why I foot the bill for top quality work...

ABCSO,,, Approved by customer staifaction only... Ha...

Thanks for posting the photos,,, I feel at rest knowing that my hard earned funds are working for me...

I hope lots of others get a chance to follow along with this,,, it might be OK for some folks out there to end up with craftsmanship work like that,,, but the majority of folks won't buy into this kind of work...

What a shame to think that anyone would treat a quality rifle stock like that knowing full well that the owner will be inspecting it apon delivery...

Thanks again for sharing what to watch for...

PS: Don't fear sharing my post with this so called Gun Smith friend,,, that way he can come onto this thread and get schooled in the art of quality gun smithing...

Cheers from the North

 

[ofbandg]

Glad to see so many gunsmiths involved in this issue. I believe this stock to be worth saving. I have purchased worse at gun shows for cheap and turned them into excellent shooters. A wood stock that looked like this is a throwaway but as long as synthetics have a good basic structure they can be worked with. They may just get heavier as you add epoxy. Having been friends with many gunsmiths I would say that it is rare, and special, for a smith to be excellent at both metal and stock work. They may be a wizard with a lathe and milling machine and just adequate with a stock. Still, this work was poorly done by any standard. I suggest you fix it yourself. The internet is full of how-tos covering this type of work, it's a good learning experience, it's relatively cheap for materials, and you don't have much to lose by trying.