The action and chamber area should be bedded solid and there should be a stretch right at the front end of the forestock where the barrel bears onto the wood; this is about 2 inches long and the downward pressure should be something like 4 to 6 pounds.
For actual competition shooting, some of the guys used to clean out this "reinforce" at the front of the stock, cut it back to one inch; they swore it made the rifles shoot better.
Other than this pressure at the chamber and action, and this pressure upward on the barrel at the front of the stock, they were completely free-floating. You actually need a little elcearance all the way around, but only a few thousandths is really necessary. If the barrel is slapping on the woodwork somewhere, you will see it if you look for a polished area.
For actual competition shooting, some of the guys used to clean out this "reinforce" at the front of the stock, cut it back to one inch; they swore it made the rifles shoot better.
Other than this pressure at the chamber and action, and this pressure upward on the barrel at the front of the stock, they were completely free-floating. You actually need a little elcearance all the way around, but only a few thousandths is really necessary. If the barrel is slapping on the woodwork somewhere, you will see it if you look for a polished area.
