Should I bed into my AICS?

[cHaOs ReX]

I'm about to transplant my R700 into an AICS 2.0 chassis.

AICS says no need to bed the rifle. My question is, is there any advantage to bedding it? If so how much advantage is there?

[JMP]

There is no disadvantage to merely attaching it with the two action screws and see how it does before making a decision on bedding it.

[dskit]

I have one AISC that I just bolted it on and never looked back.

The other, I had some grouping issues that caused me to examine the bedding. I was horrified to discover the rear tang of my action come up ever so slightly as I tightened the front bolt. What it the chassis or the action that was off, I'll never know, but once I bedded it things smoothed out.

I say torque the front bolt down and if the rear bolt torques up at about a quarter turn after contact you are GTG.

[killshot44]

As JMP sez, shoot it first and see.

If FGMM or known loads produce less than you think it should do, then bed it.

[X-NewYawker]

As JMP sez, shoot it first and see.

If FGMM or known loads produce less than you think it should do, then bed it.

NO!
The AICS, and JAE, Eberlestock, MSAR and XLR, etc., are a class of ALUMINUM rifle CHASSIS SYTEM designed to replace fiberglass bedding. The inside of the chassis is matched to mach the exact contour of the barreled action (or a V-block in some cases). If the action screws are torqued down, the rifle is "bedded"



(and they should be checked every so many hundred rounds.)

Glass bedding was developed to fix a problem with natural wood stocks. Even in synthetic stocks that are glass bedded, they use aluminum pillars as the contact points. The AICS and others internal skeletons are solid Aluminum. Slopping fiberglas between the action and an Aluminum chassis does nothing.

It would be like buying the best brush guard for your truck and then wrapping it in bubble wrap.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

^ Agree with X-NewYawker. There should be no need to bed into an aluminum chassis. If you think you do, there's something wrong and you should fix it instead of bedding.

[CobraRed]

the exact contour of a rem 700 action varies

[X-NewYawker]

the exact contour of a rem 700 action varies

They are pretty much round. That is why they are the preferred rifle for these custom projects. Just bolt and go.

[Cypriss32]

Shoot it at 100, shoot it at 500, shoot it and 1000. If it shoots good and you get no vertical stringing rock it. Some MIGHT need to be bedded. I have a few rifles that are in AI chassis and ive personally never needed a bedding job on a chassis, but I know some people that have.

[russ69]

the exact contour of a rem 700 action varies

They are pretty much round. That is why they are the preferred rifle for these custom projects. Just bolt and go.

They start off round but they are heat treated after they are OD ground and they warp. Many aluminum blocks need a skim coat to help them match the contour of the Rem action.

[ar15barrels]

The inside of the chassis is matched to mach the exact contour of the barreled action (or a V-block in some cases).
If the action screws are torqued down, the rifle is "bedded".

False.
If you screw the screws down tight, the screws are tight.
The actions RARELY match up perfectly to the stock.
Tightening the screws just bends the action and the aluminum chassis to match each other.

the exact contour of a rem 700 action varies

True.

They are pretty much round.

The actions are "pretty much" round.
The chassis are "pretty much" straight.
Both statements are "pretty much" as correct as the other.

Testing bedding quality is very simple with a dial indicator mounted to the front of the stock.
Loosen and tighten the rear screw and watch the indicator.
Anything under 0.001" of movement is excellent.
Anything under 0.005" of movement is good.
I would epoxy bed anything with more than 0.010" of movement.
I have seen over 0.090" of movement with an unbedded AICS chassis.

[X-NewYawker]

Randall -- you are the man!
BTW -- I have seen a lot of crappy chassis just thrown on the market in the last few years. Skim coat, yes, but a full Glass job, then get a nice MacMIllian.

Of all of them, I've always had the least use for the AIs

Don't like the ergo.
Have you built a piece on a JAE 700 bolt action stock yet?

False.
If you screw the screws down tight, the screws are tight.
The actions RARELY match up perfectly to the stock.
Tightening the screws just bends the action and the aluminum chassis to match each other.



True.



The actions are "pretty much" round.
The chassis are "pretty much" straight.
Both statements are "pretty much" as correct as the other.

Testing bedding quality is very simple with a dial indicator mounted to the front of the stock.
Loosen and tighten the rear screw and watch the indicator.
Anything under 0.001" of movement is excellent.
Anything under 0.005" of movement is good.
I would epoxy bed anything with more than 0.010" of movement.
I have seen over 0.090" of movement with an unbedded AICS chassis.

[ar15barrels]

Have you built a piece on a JAE 700 bolt action stock yet?

Not yet.

[X-NewYawker]

My main point being that this kind of chassis where supposed to remove the need for bedding -- if you still have to bed them, there are some beautiful wood and fiberglas stocks out there I'd jump on first.

[ar15barrels]

this kind of chassis where supposed to remove the need for bedding

That is correct.
Reality rarely matches promises.