I am a novice....
When i started putting pillars and bedding my actions, the first thing i noticed was how "positive " the stop was when the action clamped down against the pillars.
Enlightened me to the importance of consistent torque on action screws, especially if they aren't bedded.
Usually I gain about 25% accuracy just with pillars/ bedding.
All stock materials will compress over time and lose their torque. Pillars eliminate this because there is no stock material being torqued.
A proper pillar bed places the pillar between the action and the stock
and the fit is metal to metal to metal so the action screw cannot compress any stock material.
With this system, the bedding is in a stress free state and does its job of locating and keeping the action in the same exact place every time for consistency. the pillars do their job by keeping the torque consistent.
Pillars and bedding are actually two different processes and do two different functions, but together they produce the best outcome and consistent results.
I prefer to use a material that torquing cant reach it's yield strength and torque remains the same for as long as you have the Rifle.
Some use bedding compound or other materials that over time can compress depending on it's yield strength, Some thought should be used for the selection of pillar material depending on the length of time the pillar bedding is expected to last for best results, Some methods are/may be easier, but may not last as long as others.
Lastly, torque is very important and should be within the tensile strength of the action screws. Most action screws should/will be somewhere between 35 and 60 inch/lbs. 60 inch/lbs is only recommended for extreme service and should be maximum torque use on any action. I find very little if any differences in accuracy with different torque values if the pillar bedding is done correctly. only if it is not. normally changes in torque that changes group size/accuracy indicate a less than perfect stress free pillar bedding.
Probably more information than necessary for some, but there it is.
J E CUSTOM