10/22 Barrel Droop Question.

[Ducimus]

I understand that some heavy aftermarket barrels droop. Is this a common occurence or just a small percentage?

I was thinking that perhaps a GM 18'' fluted bull might be light enough to avoid droop, 18'' not being too long and fluted to reduce weight.

 

[(Ronin)]

I think it all comes down to how tight the barrel seats in the receiver that determines if it will droop or not..weight should not be a factor with a properly seated barrel

 

[604shooter]

I've got an 18 GM barrel and don't have a problem with drooping. I also have a VQ bedding kit which probably helps since the pad installed at the front of the stock supports the barrel.

 

[Bull's-Eye]

A Gunsmither V-Block will fix barrel droop in 2 seconds.

 

[Kodiak Outpost]

Another option is just to bed the first couple inches of the barrel (from the receiver). I don't think it's really much of a problem anyway.

 

[jjohnwm]

I've read that most of the accuracy experts recommend full-length bedding of the heavy barrels, with the receiver floated. Not really sure how you float the receiver, unless it's bedded at one point at the rear.

John

 

[Kodiak Outpost]

I've read that most of the accuracy experts recommend full-length bedding of the heavy barrels, with the receiver floated. Not really sure how you float the receiver, unless it's bedded at one point at the rear.

John

Most I see are the other way around. Receiver is bedded and maybe a bit of the barrel too but most of the barrel is floated.

For my 1022 I bedded the receiver and the barrel up to the balance point. That worked out to be about 5 cm of the barrel. The rest is free floated. I've only had it at the range once so far but it shoots well (easy 1 ragged hole at 20 m).

 

[22lr]

Well, for a long time I was wondering why not to float the receiver and bed barrel. Now since you guys mentioned it is recommended I will actually try that. I think it should be relatively light forestock so that humidity and temperature will not warp the assembly. Or rather, it should be synthetic stock, right?

 

[ben hunchak]

Guns are like people, when you get older, it droops.

 

[jjohnwm]

Most I see are the other way around. Receiver is bedded and maybe a bit of the barrel too but most of the barrel is floated.

For my 1022 I bedded the receiver and the barrel up to the balance point. That worked out to be about 5 cm of the barrel. The rest is free floated. I've only had it at the range once so far but it shoots well (easy 1 ragged hole at 20 m).

I know what you mean, the floated-barrel/bedded receiver idea is the standard method with most guns (bolt actions and others). That bedded barrel idea was mentioned in a couple of American magazines and related only to 10/22's with heavy barrels. The way they explained it, the tiny, light-weight aluminum receiver was actually mounted on the heavy steel barrel, and bedding the barrel reduced stress on the receiver.

I'm not saying its a good idea, and I wish I could remember exactly where I saw it. I've thought about trying it on one of my 10/22's but couldn't recall all of the details. I'm sure that the receiver would have to be stabilized some way.

John