Bedding an AR?

[LRRPF52]

I've been bedding my precision guns for years now after hearing that AA does it, and several other accuracy smiths do it.

When I was down at Steel Safari last month in New Mexico, I had the pleasure of being able to talk with JP for about 2 hours every night, for 3 nights straight.

I did a lot of asking, and tried to shut my pie hole so my ears would be open.

He had told me many years ago that he thermo-fits barrels into their billet uppers, which were undersized.

In this latest sit-down, he said that in order to deal with the variation in anodizing thickness, they also use a steel shim in sheet form when bedding the barrels.

Bill A. said in fleet testing, 50% of the guns shot well regardless, but the other 50% clearly benefited from bedding, so I just do it as a norm so it isn't a question.

I use Red Loc-tite on the gas block as well, not Blue, since the temps there can get pretty hot, to the point that Blue will release.

Hope this helps.