Pglasgow
My mistake - I forgot the Apex was like the Omega - I was thinking X-150 in my mind...
The Apexwill be considerably easier to bed.
I can also tell you that the stock is very sturdy and it does not flex in the way you described the Firebolt. I love my Sidekick, and I don't in any way want to dis NEF, but hands down, the APEX appears to be a far superior rifle in construction and quality. I really do feel like I stole it because I got it so much cheaper with the clearance. I have even considered getting another.
Now that you have shook my memory of what and Apex is - I totally agree with your assessment.
It did occur to me that I could float the barrelby removing stock material. But I thought bedding the lugs on a shimmed barrel would be faster and allow me to leave more of the stock intact.
I THINK - you will find if you shim the barrel and then pull down on the recoil lugs with the screws your barrel and stock will flex somewhat allowing you to tighten the lugs right back down in the pockets.. I am just suggesting -mind you - but i would put a small THIN teflon washer between the lugs and the pocket to lift the lugs off the botom of the pocket then bed the whole works with the washers in place. I use the the small teflon cutting sheets my wife gets from the store to make shims and washers...
If I ever get my new composite stock back from TC I am going to be it also... but I am only going to do the recoil lugs and the action first and leave the barrel floating for now. My Remington 700ML's are totally bedded not floating in their composite stocks and they really shoot well every one of my other inlines are floating. I am going to do it in steps and take pictures for another guy on line who wants todo his also... not that I am the master at bedding but might be able to give a few pointers....
Does you Apex stock look something like the top Omega picture... It really is going to be easy to bed.
mike
