Temperature gradient

[Homebody]

One other question I had was where I should be measuring the temperature for the warm spot with the temp gun - should I measure the bedding under the hide, or the outside top of the hide, or the inside ceiling of the hide?

Based on what you've said, I think you should measure basking temps on the top of the warm side hide. In any event, you should measure at the warmest place your bp can bask on. Otherwise, you risk giving your snake access to temps that are too high.