Poodleshooter
New member
I have a Marlin 925 .22lr bolt action (box magazine fed) that was performing rather poorly at distance (2" groups at 50yds with good ammo and a good scope, well mounted).
The stock didn't touch the barrel at the forend, but it did touch at random points through the length of the barrel. The forend also appeared to be slightly uneven, though it didn't directly contact the forearm of the stock. The rifle attaches in two points: a dovetailed pillar w/screw that is mounted on the barrel about 1" forward of the receiver, and a screw in front of the triggerguard/behind the magazine which attaches to the receiver.
I relieved the barrel channel back to the receiver, so that I could easily get 2+ dollar bills all the way back to the pillar, then I bedded the barrel to about 2" forward of the receiver (around the pillar, but not into the pillar well,as it is a good tight fit already). I also bedded the lip that impacts the front of the receiver, making it a bit tighter than before, but still leaving enough room to remove the action. I didn't bed the tang or any of the rear of the receiver, as it seems to be a very good fit already since I relieved the barrel channel and bedding only raised it to about the original level.
Trouble is, groups haven't improved, and I seem to have even more random fliers than before. I tried shimming the barrel, but that only resulted in diagonal stringing because I couldn't get the shim pressure centered. Should I bed the barrel out further, or just bed the entire barrel? Bed the tang even though it still seems a good fit?
The annoying thing is that when torqued down good, the rifle seems very snug in its bedding. I'm guessing that I might need more support forward of the barrel lug?
The stock didn't touch the barrel at the forend, but it did touch at random points through the length of the barrel. The forend also appeared to be slightly uneven, though it didn't directly contact the forearm of the stock. The rifle attaches in two points: a dovetailed pillar w/screw that is mounted on the barrel about 1" forward of the receiver, and a screw in front of the triggerguard/behind the magazine which attaches to the receiver.
I relieved the barrel channel back to the receiver, so that I could easily get 2+ dollar bills all the way back to the pillar, then I bedded the barrel to about 2" forward of the receiver (around the pillar, but not into the pillar well,as it is a good tight fit already). I also bedded the lip that impacts the front of the receiver, making it a bit tighter than before, but still leaving enough room to remove the action. I didn't bed the tang or any of the rear of the receiver, as it seems to be a very good fit already since I relieved the barrel channel and bedding only raised it to about the original level.
Trouble is, groups haven't improved, and I seem to have even more random fliers than before. I tried shimming the barrel, but that only resulted in diagonal stringing because I couldn't get the shim pressure centered. Should I bed the barrel out further, or just bed the entire barrel? Bed the tang even though it still seems a good fit?
The annoying thing is that when torqued down good, the rifle seems very snug in its bedding. I'm guessing that I might need more support forward of the barrel lug?