I ordered a #1 in April at the 04 NRA show. I ordered it with extra fancy wood, pewter tip, brass escuteheons, and a military butt plate. My question would be about custom bedding and polished barrel. What is everyone's opinion on these two upgrades? Thanks
Custom bedding serves a purpose in that it protects the foreend from moisture that can cause it to swell affecting accuracy and is a worthwhile upgrade for the price. Polished barrel is a cosmetic preference.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" -Benjamin Franklin-
Sir, The polished barrel is a great looking option but not without its drawbacks. I have both and the polished barrel is a beauty to look at and it took lots of time to do by a craftsman. However, if you plan to shoot in matches with a long string of shots, the mirage created by the polished barrel is not good. Once the barrel gets hot after say 10-12 shots (1 shot per minute) the barrel really puts off some mirage when out in the sunlight..
Like I said, it depends what you are gonna do with this rifle. If you don't plan to shoot matches or if your range is covered, go ahead and get the polished barrel.
As for the bedding the forearm, a cheap insurance against any deformation if the rifle ever gets caught out in the rain or falls out of a boat on a hunting trip.
