What is crucial for ensuring good accuracy and preventing damage to the stock under rifle recoil?

Bedding is crucial for ensuring good accuracy and preventing damage to the stock under rifle recoil because it establishes a solid and stable connection between the rifle's action and the stock. Proper bedding helps to absorb some of the forces generated by recoil, which can otherwise lead to movement or misalignment of the components. Effective bedding materials create a consistent fit, reducing the chances of stress points that could affect the rifle's performance. This stability translates into better accuracy since the action is less likely to shift during firing, leading to more consistent shot placement.

The other options, while important in their own right, do not directly contribute to mitigating recoil effects on stock accuracy. Finishing focuses on the protective and aesthetic aspects of the stock, checkering enhances grip and control, and inletting refers to the process of fitting the action into the stock, but none specifically serve the role of stabilizing the action under the impacts of recoil like bedding does.