How much free floating is actually required?

chemo

chemo

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I have recently received my new barreled action and I was opening up my mcmillan stock to free float the new barrel and it does free float now, I can easily slip a sheet of paper between stock and barrel.

But when the rifle is rested on my front rest I cannot slip that sheet under the barrel. Does it look like I need to grind more?
 
x2

What I usually do is take out a bunch of material in the barrel channel. Then when I bed the action I usually put 2 layers of masking tape on the underside of the barrel (and sides if required) and coat the works with release agent.

When it is all said and done I have a properly pillar bedded action and a nice uniform barrel channel that will float the barrel even when using a bi-pod. Some stocks need a bit of stiffening in the barrel channel to achieve a good solid stock that will float the barrel in all circumstances. I find tungsten tig welding rods do a nice job of that. Cast lead bullets or lead shot also help add a bit of weight is its required.

My $0.02
Cheers!
 
notsorichguy said:
Some stocks need a bit of stiffening in the barrel channel to achieve a good solid stock that will float the barrel in all circumstances. I find tungsten tig welding rods do a nice job of that. Cast lead bullets or lead shot also help add a bit of weight is its required.
Click to expand...

Yeah I feel like my McMillan is not stiff enough but I cannot add rods as it is not hollow, its full. I'd like to know what others with 1,25'' diameter barrel do with their A5. If I have remove more material I feel like it's not gonna improve stiffness at all
 
Finally done with this...

The more material I removed the more disapointed I became with my Mcmillan product, its full of air bubbles, and what exactly is the sniper fill if it doesn't stiffen anything?
Through the air bubbles I can see the chicken wire they used inside. Not to mention all the burs from the unmolding
 
If McMillan knew how large the barrel was going to be, they would have made the stock to fit it. Don't blame them for your alterations.

Barrels need to float more than the minimum amount ... accuracy will not be the best is a 'free floating' vibrating barrel contacts the stock.

Rather than inletting your barrel deeper, you can glass the front of the action a bit higher...
 
Do what has already been said.
Use tape around the barrel at the end of the stock to lift the barrel and provide the required space and then bed the action. Would have been better to do this before you had relieved the channel so much.
 
guntech said:
If McMillan knew how large the barrel was going to be, they would have made the stock to fit it. Don't blame them for your alterations.

Barrels need to float more than the minimum amount ... accuracy will not be the best is a 'free floating' vibrating barrel contacts the stock.

Rather than inletting your barrel deeper, you can glass the front of the action a bit higher...
Click to expand...

Yeah I left the previous bedding to have the barrel a bit higher and it seems like I removed much by the way I say it but it really isnt that much, it was just a long process. The air bubbles appeared after the first seconds of sanding, nothing that cant be fixed though

The burs I mention are on the outside and I'm wondering how I could fix that
 
warrenb said:
Do what has already been said.
Use tape around the barrel at the end of the stock to lift the barrel and provide the required space and then bed the action. Would have been better to do this before you had relieved the channel so much.
Click to expand...

Warren, by your description are you actually raising the entire barreled action to create the gap?
 
Taylor-Made said:
Warren, by your description are you actually raising the entire barreled action to create the gap?
Click to expand...

Your raising the action perhaps, but your likely slightly altering the plane on which it sits. I did this with one rifle and had in my oppinion good results. But you have to use common sense as to how much is acceptable. The bedding is important.

I am not a gun smith and have not bedded a vast amount of rifles just offering what worked for me.
 
"...rested on my front rest..." Sounds like your too far out on the forestock. Move the rest back to the balance point of the rifle. Usually just in front of the trigger guard.
"...what others with 1.25'' diameter barrel do..." Usually not "tactical" stocks. You need a stock that is made for an extra heavy barrel.
 
Sunray, you will probably not read this as you have not read the message that said problem solved but:
I cannot rest the gun any farther back since it is a front rest with rifle a rifle stop. I have personally never seen any successful benchrest shooter rest a gun just in front of trigger, you would have to teach me!

stock was already inleted for heavy varmint, the new barrel is also a heavy varmint but slightly bigger
 
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