CZ bed - HELP !!

[relodr36]

If asking questions about a cheap rimfire like a CZ is out of order here,please accept this old geezer's apology !
CZ makes some good rimfire rifles but almost every model uses a different receiver-to-stock mounting scheme.
When they brought out the 453,they got rid of the barrel dovetail they used on the 452 and they gave it an improved trigger.
The 453 American I got last year shoots fairly good for an out-of-the-box rifle.With Wolf Match Extra,it will stay in 0.400-0.600 " at 50 yards but there are signs of 2-grouping,etc.With a 8-32X Tasco on it,it's a heck of a squirrel rifle,but I also put a 36X Sightron on it and use it on the bench.In that mode,I'm not satisfied.

I decided to do something about the bedding on this gun before the weather gets nice.

This shows the factory stock inletting.
The barrel is free floating
The metal bar is the floating "recoil lug" that the front action screw goes thru.It is a loose fit on the screw so I'm not sure that it really does any good.

Trigger guard and trigger plate assembly.The floating recoil lug doesn't appear to be necessary and will be discarded.

This shows the stock after spraying with powder and the receiver wiped down with light oil.
I've used Dr Scholls plain foot powder in spray cans previously and prefer it to the Tinactin Medicated spray powder that I used for this job.The Scholls will give you a thinner coat and will show contact better.

these 2 pictures show where the receiver touches the stock when assembled with screws tightened.

Tentative plans are:
1. Tape the receiver sides with enough layers to assure that the receiver sides don't touch the stock after the bedding job is completed.
2 .shim the barrell channel to maintain .005 clearance
3. pillar bed the rear and mid-action screws I already have steel 1/8-IP lamp nipples,and used 7/16 X 14 taps to thread the holes.The nipple screw in easily now.
4. bed the receiver in front of the magazine box and 1/2 inch of the barrel.

What's your thoughts on this?

Am I asking for trouble using 3-point bedding?

Your thoughts and recommendations are appreciated !!

 

[AL W.]

I bedded a CZ American using the 3-points that you show in your picture with some success. I would make sure that you bed the barrel at least an inch past the receiver so it's properly supported. I would bed the receiver at the two action screws first and then add the bedding for the barrel. I tried to bed all three points at once, but had to do it over because I had trouble with the barrel bedding. I almost forgot, make sure that the barrel is fully floated from your barrel bedding forward. I tried leaving a pressure pad at the fore-end and the rifle would not group. I hope this helps. AL

 

[ED COLLIER]

Hi 36,
I am not sure that 3 point bedding is the best approach, unless done perfectly so as not to stress the action. Uneven pressure at any of the three WILL stress the action.
If you haven't checked over on the Rimfire Central site, may I suggest that you give it a look. Go to Forums, click on CZ, do a search for Bedding. There is a ton of information, and pictures. I like your approach to bedding using powder spray. Keep us informed as to the progress. ED

 

[derek casey]

i was just wondering why you removed the recoil lug? if you are bedding it wouldn't that make it stay put in the stock? are you going to fill the that area full of the stock with bedding compound to make up for the mising lug? just wondering. i've been thinking about a heavy barreled cz myself lately and i'll be bedding it as well. is there a notch in the rifle action for the recoil lug to sit in when you bolt the action and stock together? if there is and you don't use it the bolts become the recoil lugs. even though the .22lr's don't recoil it does make a difference.

 

[relodr36]

Derek,
The bar/lug doesn't touch the action when the stock is attached.
I'm eliminating it as the tang and center bolts will have pillars with large epoxy flanges supporting the action midpoint and tang.
As Al suggested,it's probably smart to do the tang and barrel junction first and make sure that there is good solid contact there before doing the center.
If it doesn't improve the accuracy,I should be able to return it to the original bedding.
relodr