Rifle bedding

Rifle bedding is a gunsmithing process of providing a rigid and consistent foundation for a rifle’s operational components, by creating a stable and close-fitting bearing surface between the gun's functional parts (i.e. the receiver housing the barrelled action) and its structural support (i.e. the stock) that do not deform with heat, pressure and moisture, or shift under the shear stress of the recoil from firing.

The bedding process is often an aftermarket modification, and is done for the goal of accurizing the rifle and (to a lesser extent) prolonging the service life of the stock.

If the stock is wooden, it will also expand or shrink significantly with environmental changes such as temperature and moisture, which causes changes in action screw tension.

The presence of the bedding material also adds a small amount of extra height to the action, and creates more of a gap between the barrel (which is fixed to the front of the action) and the fore-end of the stock, allowing the barrel to be better floated, which helps improve accuracy.

Bedding redistributes stress over a larger area, reduces shifting between the action and the stock, and creates a hardier, protective epoxy coating over the softer stock contact surface, thus protecting it from mechanical wears over time.

Mechanical locking occurs when bedding material is allowed to harden in holes or around protrusions on the action.