How to Bed a Rifle Receiver

Instructions

• 1

  Remove the stock from the rifle's furniture, and the bolt, trigger guard, trigger assembly and the bolt stop from the receiver. Keep the spare parts in a plastic bag.

• 2

  Put the stock in a stock vise and install the action screws into the action.

• 3

  Use the Dremel tool to remove the inside of the furniture until you have 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch of space between the receiver and the stock.

• 4

  Use the gun cleaner to degrease the receiver and the recoil lug until it's completely clear of oil; multiple cleanings may be necessary.

• 5

  Cover the receiver and the recoil lug with three to four layers of masking tape, but leave the back of the lug uncovered.

• 6

  Use masking tape to cover any outside part of the stock that may come into contact with epoxy.

• 7

  Use modeling clay to cover any openings in the receiver and the stock where epoxy would be an issue, such as the fitting for the magazine, the trigger fitting and pin holes and screw holes. Double-check to make sure the epoxy won't cause problems with the operation of the rifle.

• 8

  Wrap masking tape around the spot where the barrel comes into contact with the end of the stock until you have a 1/16-inch layer.

• 9

  Apply the release agent to the barrel and the receiver, let it cure for a few minutes, then coat it again.

• 10

  Degrease the stock where you want the epoxy to bind to and let it dry.

• 11

  Mix enough epoxy for the project, depending on your rifle stock, and some extra, in case of mistakes.

• 12

  Apply the epoxy to the locations where the receiver and the recoil lug come into contact with the stock.

• 13

  Slide the receiver into the stock with care; epoxy is difficult to remove, so any mistakes may be permanent.

• 14

  Tighten the elastic bands around the receiver and the stock.

• 15

  Wait one to two days for the epoxy to cure; the cure time should be listed on the bottle of epoxy.

• 16

  Pull the elastic bands off of your rifle and remove the receiver from the stock; you may need a rubber mallet.

• 17

  Pull off the modeling clay and clean the pin holes and screw holes. Pull the tape off of the receiver.

• 18

  Remove any epoxy from the stock outside of the bedding, and remove the clay from the stock.

• 19

  Cover the epoxy in tape, then seal the barrel channel with paint or special-purpose sealer.

• 20

  Remove the action screws and reassemble your rifle action.

• 21

  Clean the action and the barrel with degreaser.

• 22

  Once the barrel channel sealer is dry, reassemble your rifle completely; it's now safe for testing.