Brian B.
Darrells not grumpy, he is just really busy!!!!
His V-Block was one that I studied very close in designing my system. I do like his design. There are some major differences between his V-Block design and mine.
They are:
Teh main difference is that the Holland V-Block system uses a specially contoured barrel which fits a recoil lug and a lock nut similiar to the Savage rifle about 4" in front of the receiver face. The recoil lug on the Holland design limits barrel diameter that can be used ahead of the recoil lug to around 1 1/16". The lug also bares directly against the V-Block on its forward surface.
This is all good except it requires a specially contoured barrel, again limited in diameter and it also requires threading the barrel not only for the receiver threads but also for the lock nut that holds the recoil lug in place.
The holland design uses a single 1/4x28tpi bolt to hold the barreled action down in the V-Block.
I can not find any fault with this system from a performance or accuracy stand point when used on conventional dimensioned tactical or varmint style rifles.
Still I designed my Barrel Bedding V-Block system to allow the Rem 700 or any modern action really to be used with barrels of much larger diameter then the standard 1.250" and also up to 38" in length. This is something a conventional factory receiver simply can not do using a conventional bedding system without major receiver flexing.
My design differs from Darrells in that I keep the recoil lug in the traditional location between the receiver and barrel. My design has the recoil lug baring against the stock with the V-Block positioned ahead of the lug.
Also, My design uses two and even three 1/4-28 tpi mounting bolts to secure the barrel down into the V-Block. Again this is determined by the size of the barrel and the intensity of the round.
Also, my design has no real limits on the barrel diameter that can be used although a 1.350" diameter barrel is the same diameter as a Rem 700 receiver, Anything much larger and it looks a bit odd.
Still with this diameter, you can use a straight cylinder barrel up to 36" in length is a round with the intensity of a 338 Kahn with no barrel whip problems at all.
This is one of my smaller V-Block rifles. It sports a 1.250" diameter straight cylinder 30" Lilja 1-8", 3 groove chambered for the 22-6mm AI.
Because this chambering has little recoil and the barrel is not OVERLY heavy and long, a 7" V-Block was machined with two mounting bolts.
This pic shows the fitted V-Block. IT is fixed to the stock using Brownells Steel Bedding compound. As you can see the area behind the recoil lug has been relieved of wood and is solid Steel bed for over 1.75" in depth. It is extremely strong and rigid.
The two holes on the right are for the V-Block mounting bolts. The one on the left is a dummy receiver screw that does nothing but look good!
Besides the bolt holes in the forend, this is the only other thing that tells this rifle is not a conventional rifle, the barrel markings.
On my heavy rifles, I use a 10" block with three mounting screws. The width of my V-Blocks is determined by the barrel diameter.
The design used in the pics that goodgrouper posted is a time tested system that work great as well. Really the only real disadvantage is machining time and cost.
Also, they require the optical system to be elevated a great deal higher then either the Holland or my system.
I see my system as a hybrid cross between Hollands V-Block and the clamp block systems.
It has teh clean looks of the Holland, actually noticably cleaner lines, while offering the stability of the clamp design.
My 338 Kahn for example has a 34.5" Lilja, 1.350" straight cylinder barrel and is built on a Rem 700 receiver. Even though the barrel is 34.5" long, with the first 10" of the barrel firnly supported by the V-Block, this barrel has the stiffness of a free floated 24.5" barrel with a diameter of 1.350".
Looking at it that way it is easy to see why these rifles are so stiff and rigid and why they perform so consistantly at extreme range or even close range.
I am also designing an Extreme Sporter V-Block system which will be used on conventional lookign rifles of sporter design and weight but with the stability of a Barrel Bedding V-Block.
All the systems work great once finished and on the range. I just feel my system offers the highest level of performance for the machining time requires and the lower amount of machining translates into lower labor charges for equal performance.
Each design will again produce extremely consistant long range performance. The Holland design is more suited to conventional weight Tactical and Varmint rifles where as my design and the Clamp design are better for very long and very heavy barrels.
Good Shooting!!!!
Kirby Allen (50)
