Match/center bedding |
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FlyPiper907
Senior Member Joined: January 31 2021 Location: Alaska Status: Offline Points: 188 |
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Posted: March 18 2021 at 1:43pm |
Howdy all,
In my readings, I’m hearing about people match bedding and center bedding their Enfields. The pros I’ve spoken with mention they don’t do that kind of work on these rifles and some discourage it. From what I’ve been reading, it seems like a way to aid in accuracy to the platform. I understand it would probably take value out of collectibility too. Has anyone done this kind of work? I have ZERO woodwork experience but would like to do this on another one of these rifles when the time comes. Cheers!
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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In my experience, the center bedding does reduce MPI variability in changing weather conditions. I don’t think it improves accuracy by a significant amount, but it does help maintain zero’s in variable conditions (less influence from forend warping). The shooter is the largest contributor to inaccuracy.
My Center bedded No. 4 7.62 DCRA conversion is my best shooting rifle, perhaps 1 to 1.25 MOA with a scope. |
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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The thing with center bedding is that it only fixes poor bedding. Bedd it well & it won't NEED center bedding. If you try it try in in a 100% reversible method FIRST.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Most all Cananda DCRA competitive shooters center bedded or middle band bedded their No. 4 rifles back when the No. 4 was used in Service Rifle matches. Was even used in the Palma Matches.
Variations in humidity and temperature would cause shifting of the MPI of groups as the forend started to distort. The worst thing to do was lay the rifle down on the damp grass with the sun shining, it could significantly shift the POA very quickly. With the barrel bedded at the middle band, or further back, the forend had less influence on pushing the barrel to one side or the other, or in the vertical direction. Standard muzzle bearing was prone to loose (or increase) pressure quickly on the barrel, or push the muzzle to one side, as the forend heated up or absorbed moisture. I’m not sure if the UK NRA shooters did the same, but it was allowed per the rules for SR(b) competition. I personally think it’s not worth the trouble. We are fair weather shooters and not as concerned with POI shifts over the course of a days shooting. Not many of us shoot out in the rain and sun for the entire day.. |
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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If you have zero experience in woodworking, that is one thing. Having zero experience in attempting to alter an Enfield to maybe get it to shoot more accurately is another. There are some here that can and have accurized their individual Enfield using the center bedding method and fewer still that have used the muzzle bedding method. Before you do anything to the furniture/wood. Work on learning how your rifle shoots in its current condition, paying attention to your natural point of aim prior to firing and learning to use the sights correctly. If you work out those nuances and your rifle accuracy improves, leave the rifle alone. If the rifle, through the original sights, gets a group of five inches or less at 100 yards from a standing or sitting position, leave the rifle alone. Bedding the rifle correctly only goes so far with a two piece stock design and does not always produce the desired results. With zero experience with an Enfield rifle, attempting to bed the barrel into its barrel channel can have disastrous results as far as accuracy goes.
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FlyPiper907
Senior Member Joined: January 31 2021 Location: Alaska Status: Offline Points: 188 |
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Thanks guys - all great stuff. Mainly just curious about how you’d go about doing it and such. I have yet to shoot my rifles still with the current issues I’ve got with them; the match bedding question came up from the reading and watching I’ve been doing - still lots to learn! I’ve got that “Lee Enfield Accurizing” book coming in the mail as we speak and intend on reading that too. Thanks again for help, guys.
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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You might find this helpful. check out 3-2-14.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Roger Wadhams Accurising book is a worthwhile read. Also Captain Peter Laidler's writings which are available on "Milsurps" website are worth downloading.
That will give you the correct Armourer's method for setting up the rifles properly. The book will give you a good insight into how these rifles have been modified for target shooting back in the day. I read both before attempting to improve my No1MkIII*. This rifle had many issues, (even though it looked like new). It was shooting 6" spead at 50 metres! In the end I worked to keep it basically standard set up; but with attention to all the little details. It now shoots around 2 MOA if I do my bit. Buy a project rifle and learn on it; it is very pleasing to see the project develop into a good shooter!
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Before you mess with it, shoot it off the bench. If you are an experienced shooter, you will know your capability and will be able to honestly judge the result. If your shooting supported (on a rest) with the original service sights, and you get 10 consecutive rounds within 2 MOA, don’t touch it, don’t even remove the forend.
If groups are rather large, say > 5 MOA off the bench, then it may be worth some investigating. A shot out barrel will do worse. A badly fitting forend could also be the reason. |
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