Laminated Stock: Is Barrel Channel Sealed?
I've never taken my rifle action and barrel off of the stock, and I've had it for about 11 years now.
Since it has a laminated stock, I've never been worried about rain affecting the wooden parts, but I have been concerned about the barrel channel area. I just cannot find a straightforward answer online as to whether this part is sealed. I surely hope it is, since I have hunted in wet weather a few times and definitely shot it when it was humid.
Since the barrel of my Remington 673 is bedded in two places (according to Chuck Hawks' review of the model awhile back), I cannot really just slip a silicone cloth in the barrel channel to wipe it. The first screw in the forearm always gets in the way.
I know I should know how to take apart the bolt and remove the firing pin (I of course know how to remove the bolt, itself), but having never seen anyone do this, I am concerned about messing it up. Nobody in my family knows how to do this on a rifle, so I've never been shown how it's done. Even if the wood is sealed, there's always good reason to lubricate the surface of the barrel, itself, and it would be good to learn to do this, no doubt.
I guess knowing the stock is sealed would set my mind at ease somewhat, and if not, knowing what the next steps are.