Seeking advice on how to fix a new rifles barrel channel

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

OK guys I just got a new Ruger rifle. I pulled it apart to study the action and parts for bedding as I have never bedded a Ruger. I made up my mind on what I wanted to do and re assembled the rifle and ordered some pliers. No for the question, upon fondling my new toy I noticed that my barrel does not ride true down the middle of my stock, the barrel is taught to the right side of the forearm.

Now I believe the best course of action is to go ahead and prep the rifle for bedding and try to get the barrel to ride true to the stocks forearm by shifting the action. What is your opinion? The stock it laminate

 

[Jim See]

When you bed it wrap some masking tape around the barrel, enough to center it in the channel and hold it there, then bed as normal. Just don't overtighten the front screw or you can flex the assembly.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

When you bed it wrap some masking tape around the barrel, enough to center it in the channel and hold it there, then bed as normal. Just don't overtighten the front screw or you can flex the assembly.

Jim

Thanks, the part I'm worried about is the front pillar, Ruger uses a crazy 60 degree bolt and a small steel stock insert. I don't know if I should bed the insert as well as I am under the impression now I will have to widen the hole for the puller to get it to sit strait in the stock and not induce stress.

 

[Jim See]

yea it's a bit tricky, I am assuming you have the wood stock and if so that makes it a bit easier to work with, here is the best instruction I can give you.

Remove the front pressure point on the barrel, when you do you will see that the barreled action will sink deeper in the stock, this is normal as the inlet under the front of the action is usually a little deeper so that when tightened up it actually flexes the stock to put alot of pressure on the barrel.

When you remove the pressure point you still want the barreled action to have the same show line as it did with the pressure point, use the tape to get it to set in at the same level.

open up the front screw hole to accept the pillar with a little wiggle room, epoxy will fill the void and the wiggle room is essential to get the proper alignment and placement of the barreled action.

open the rear hole for the pillar and dry fit everything so nothing binds. Dry fitting is SOOO important so you don't end up with a mess.

putty and tape off everything necessary so you don't glue it in with a mechanical lock.

put a bit of tape around your screws where they will center in the pillar and not cover up the threads that need to screw in the action. make sure to dry fit that way. also make sure you don't have so much tape they wont go thru the bottom metal holes. if all else fails you can drill out the pillars for clearance after all the epoxy has set in 24 hours.

grease your screws so they dont glue in.

release agent on action and bottom metal

place your bedding and place your pillars in the stock/bedding.

clean out the inside of the pillars of any glue before inserting the action.

I like to stick a cut off q-tip in the actions front and rear thread hole when inserting the action and pressing it in the bedding. I then pull them out thru the pillars to remove and epoxy that pushed into the pillars when you inserted the action, careful not to pull the pillars with the q-tip. you almost need 3 hands to do all this, get creative with holding it in a vise so your not fumbling with the gun. A tip of a knife against the pillar as you pull the q-tip will help keep the pillars in place.

if alot of bedding squished into the bottom metal inlet remove the excess then place the bottom metal and instal your greased action screws.

now don't overtighten or you will stress every thing just lightly snug them so the bottom metal is flush and the action is at original show line.

These are some of the hardest rifles to bed so take your time and think it thru.

 

[tinkerer]

A. Its easier to fix the barrel channel (assuming the barrel is overall about where it should be down the middle) with a dremel than the action.

B. It the barrel is NOT centered, you may need to open the channel and open th pillar holes as well as clearance the action.

If its the later, you may want to consider a straighter stock to begin with.

Just saying.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Thanks to the both of you. The barrel is supposed to be floated from the factory ( no pressure point). New stock is not an option, factory stock is excellent and a replacement would cost too much.

 

[J E Custom]

I'm with Jim on this one. I like to open the stock in the bedding area enough to allow the barrel to lay in the barrel channel with no side loading after wrapping the barrel with several layers of tape.

Then I fit the pillars to hold the action in the correct place and install them. (This assures me that
the action is in the correct location while bedding.

I use spring clamps directly over the action screws to prevent flexing the action.

After the bedding has cured I dress up the barrel channel for uniform clearance.

Pillars are the foundation for a good bedding job so make sure they are in the proper place
before bedding.

Easy-Peezy

J E CUSTOM

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Thanks guys I here you, will get started on her tonight