NM Mountainman
Member
Has anyone else ever seen or fired a rifle which was bedded by this method?
In 1966, While I was a college student, I decided to sell and replace my Win. 52B .22 target rifle with standard barrel to upgrade to a rifle with a heavy barrel which was set up for use with a palm rest and hook butt plate.
After selling my rifle for $75, I found one to replace it for $110 (which was about the price of a new S&W model 41 at the time.) The rifle was a 52 (D I think) which had been customized by the Army Marksmanship unit at Fort Benning, Ga for use in competition by their elite target shooters. It had the, adjustable butt plate, an accessory rail for mounting a palm rest or swivel loop, a heavy custom barrel, and a custom trigger. The rifle, a special torque wrench, instructions, 1 piece cleaning rod, and other accessories were housed in a custom fitted, padded, lockable heavy duty steel rectangular hinged case which was sturdy enough for travel by commercial airline. The case itself was probably worth more than $110.
The action was bedded in fiberglass, and the barrel was also bedded full length with full contact. The barrel was attached to the barrel channel with 3 or 4 screws which engaged threaded holes in lugs soldered to the underside of the barrel. (Maybe dovetailed, I don't remember for sure.) After unscrewing the barrel, the barrel and action could be removed. The action screws (both a short and long set were included) were designed to be lightly torqued into place, or just left out with the action floating in the stock. It shot a little better with the screws removed and the action floating. The trigger could be operated as a crisp 3 lb. trigger or a 2 oz. set trigger.
When I had an experienced bench rest competitor bench test several brands of match ammo at 50 meters with an 18x Unertyl scope mounted, 10 shot groups looked like one .30 to .35 cal. hole with no flyers. Very consistent, very amazing.
I year or two later, I decided to sell it because I could no longer afford to compete with adults in small bore rifle competition. There was too much travel, and too much specialized equipment required. I decided I would switch to pistol competion because all you needed, was a pistol, some extra magazines, shooting glasses, and hearing protection.
I sold the rifle with all accessories for $225, and bought a new S&W model 41 with 3 magazines and muzzle comp for &110. I saved the rest of the money to put towards an engagement ring. (I still have the pistol; it has lasted a lot longer than the marriage.)
The rifle was so unusual and shot so well, that I wished I could have kept it, even though I never competed in small bore rifle again.
In 1966, While I was a college student, I decided to sell and replace my Win. 52B .22 target rifle with standard barrel to upgrade to a rifle with a heavy barrel which was set up for use with a palm rest and hook butt plate.
After selling my rifle for $75, I found one to replace it for $110 (which was about the price of a new S&W model 41 at the time.) The rifle was a 52 (D I think) which had been customized by the Army Marksmanship unit at Fort Benning, Ga for use in competition by their elite target shooters. It had the, adjustable butt plate, an accessory rail for mounting a palm rest or swivel loop, a heavy custom barrel, and a custom trigger. The rifle, a special torque wrench, instructions, 1 piece cleaning rod, and other accessories were housed in a custom fitted, padded, lockable heavy duty steel rectangular hinged case which was sturdy enough for travel by commercial airline. The case itself was probably worth more than $110.
The action was bedded in fiberglass, and the barrel was also bedded full length with full contact. The barrel was attached to the barrel channel with 3 or 4 screws which engaged threaded holes in lugs soldered to the underside of the barrel. (Maybe dovetailed, I don't remember for sure.) After unscrewing the barrel, the barrel and action could be removed. The action screws (both a short and long set were included) were designed to be lightly torqued into place, or just left out with the action floating in the stock. It shot a little better with the screws removed and the action floating. The trigger could be operated as a crisp 3 lb. trigger or a 2 oz. set trigger.
When I had an experienced bench rest competitor bench test several brands of match ammo at 50 meters with an 18x Unertyl scope mounted, 10 shot groups looked like one .30 to .35 cal. hole with no flyers. Very consistent, very amazing.
I year or two later, I decided to sell it because I could no longer afford to compete with adults in small bore rifle competition. There was too much travel, and too much specialized equipment required. I decided I would switch to pistol competion because all you needed, was a pistol, some extra magazines, shooting glasses, and hearing protection.
I sold the rifle with all accessories for $225, and bought a new S&W model 41 with 3 magazines and muzzle comp for &110. I saved the rest of the money to put towards an engagement ring. (I still have the pistol; it has lasted a lot longer than the marriage.)
The rifle was so unusual and shot so well, that I wished I could have kept it, even though I never competed in small bore rifle again.
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