Professional gunsmith guide to Remington 700 stock inletting, pillar bedding, and full contact bedding procedures for precision accuracy.
Stock inletting and bedding are the stock-fitting operations that determine how consistently the action returns to the same position shot to shot. Inconsistent stock interface is the most common cause of unexplained accuracy degradation on otherwise sound Remington 700 rifles. Professional inletting and bedding eliminates this variable and typically produces 25–50% group size reduction on factory rifles.
Stock Preparation and Inletting Techniques
Inletting begins with assessing the factory channel geometry relative to the action. Factory inletting is adequate for reliable function but rarely provides the consistent action-to-stock contact required for precision accuracy. Use layout dye (Dykem) on the action's bottom metal to identify actual contact points—only the desired contact areas should transfer dye to the stock surface.
For wood stocks, use sharp inletting chisels and rifles rasps to remove material from unwanted contact areas. Work in small increments and re-check frequently. The goal is to create clearance around the entire action except for the bedding areas: the recoil lug mortise, the forward action screw area, and the tang. Clearance of 0.040"–0.060" around the action sides and top allows bedding compound to flow and create full contact.
Synthetic stocks typically require a rotary tool with carbide burr for material removal. The harder substrate works well but cuts faster than expected—move slowly and test frequently. Many synthetic stocks have internal aluminum or fiberglass pillars already molded in; identify these before cutting to avoid compromising structural support points.
Pillar Bedding Systems and Installation
Pillar bedding installs aluminum or steel columns in the stock's action screw holes, creating rigid metal-to-metal contact when the guard screws are tightened. Without pillars, the stock material compresses under guard screw torque, causing the action to shift as the stock expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. This shift changes point of impact between range sessions.
Install pillars by drilling the existing action screw holes to the pillar's outside diameter using a drill press or mill with the stock properly supported. Pillar OD typically measures 0.400"–0.430". The pillar must be precisely vertical—a tilted pillar introduces lateral stress when screws are tightened. Epoxy pillars in place after verifying action screws pass freely and pillar tops are flush with the intended bedding surface.
| Bedding Method | Best Application | Difficulty | Accuracy Gain Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pillar only | Factory hunting rifles | Low | Moderate — eliminates screw torque variation |
| Full bedding (no pillar) | Light-use rifles, wood stocks | Medium | Good — full contact eliminates stress points |
| Pillar + full bed | Precision / competition | Medium-High | Best — combines benefits of both |
| Chassis system | Tactical / competition | Low (drop-in) | Excellent — eliminates stock variables entirely |
Full Contact Bedding Methods
Full contact bedding fills the entire action channel with epoxy compound, creating a custom-fitted bedding surface that contacts the action uniformly. Mix bedding compound per manufacturer instructions and apply to the stock inlet. Lower the action carefully from front to rear, starting at the front guard screw to position the action correctly. Tighten guard screws to approximately 40 in-lbs—enough to seat without distortion.
Allow full cure per compound specifications before attempting action removal. Marine-Tex requires 24 hours; Devcon 10110 requires 12 hours. Remove the action by inserting a thin wooden wedge in the barrel channel gap and applying gentle upward pressure while tapping the stock. Never force the action straight up—rotate it slightly while lifting to break the suction seal. If the action resists, apply a thin stream of acetone around the action perimeter and wait 15 minutes.
Quality Control and Testing Procedures
After bedding, verify contact pattern using layout dye on the action before final assembly. The dye should transfer uniformly across the recoil lug faces, forward action ring, and tang area. Voids—areas with no dye transfer—indicate incomplete contact requiring additional compound application. A single large void at the recoil lug reduces the bedding's effectiveness significantly.
Verify guard screw torque consistency using a torque wrench. Both screws should reach the same torque value without either binding early or requiring additional turns. Inconsistent torque indicates a pillar that is not level or a bedding surface that is not uniform. Re-bed if torque values differ by more than 5 in-lbs between front and rear screws.