Thread: Rifle bedding - is this normal?

Just got my rifle back from the gunsmith after i requested it to be bedded, and it came back like this.

I haven't taken it to the range yet, so this is more about cosmetics I guess for now. Is the bedding finish and the presence of bubbles and missed areas etc, normal and to be expected? When assembled it is hidden (with the exception of that blob out the back by the rear action screw - which i personally dont like at all). I guess, my question is as long as it functions well enough, should I be concerned at all, or should I have been expecting a better job from a gunsmith?

Ive seen worse that still shot well...BUT if your not happy...take it back and talk to them directly.....if it shoots well I cannot see a problem.

That is quite often normal after a first skimming - most of the time the person doing it fills the voids and you just don't see them. Not likely to affect anything just the cosmetics of it...

My bedding jobs usually dont look any prettier. But then again I didnt spend 100s of $ to have them done by a "professional"...

The first rifle I got done by a gun smith, can't remember price wasn't cheap, un-impressed, shot well though, shot pretty well before this bedding. Older and more confident I do my own.

That’s rough

A little more care and pride in what your doing would have finished that off with a supreme finish

You have to try and remember that every job you do is a self portrait

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

That’s rough

A little more care and pride in what your doing would have finished that off with a supreme finish

You have to try and remember that every job you do is a self portrait

Very well put. Regardless of how it shoots, I wouldn’t be happy with that.

B

I wouldn't be that impressed if i had payed for that work especially the ground out material at the tang.

Gunsmith? I definitely did a much better job than that first time ever doing bedding with the terminal ballistic kit. Wouldn't be happy having paid for that.personally.

That doesnt look that flash, would expect better from a gunsmith. But, if it shoots ok, then maybe its acceptable. Shoot it first, let us know.

I've done a few and mine all looked far neater than that.
As long as the recoil lug was correctly relieved it should shoot fine, but it looks rough.

As Forrest might have said, purdy is as purdy does..
Certainly isn't a cosmetic wonder.

It looks like it was not properly prepared to key the compound to the stock. This has left the very poor edge esp in the Tang area. Re- masking it and tidying that edge with sandpaper and then using a filler type paint to sharpen the edge would improve it, but then it shouldnt be your issue

Montana? Why did it need bedding?

This rifle has historically been good but not great and only been used for bush work.

Since moving south and hunting open tussock along with changing to precision hunter 150gr eldx I could consistently and confidently get out to 550yds, and i thought job done! Unfortunately over the last year or so ive ran into issues with accuracy and it caused no end of frustration. My other kimbers are brilliant and I can't fault them, this one not so much. Thought I'd see if bedding could help out after trying all the usual solutions, cleaning regime, changing out scopes, mounts, screw torque, etc. Just trying to do what I can to sort out the rifle. Cheaper to run and lighter than my 300wsm montana, but lately confidence has been knocked by the 7mm-08.