Two idenical rifles two different bedding methods.

MD

MD

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I have two Husqvarna 4100 rifles, one in 7x57 and one 270.

The 7x57 is free floated and the 270 I just realized, as it is new to me has the barrel very snugly fit in the barrel channel.

I've never shot the 270.

I should know this after 50 years of shooting and reading hunting mags, but what is the disadvantage of having a barrel not free floated but snug in the wood?

The 270 was just in the shop for trigger and safety work and the 'smith never mentioned anything about it possibly being a problem when he gave it back to me.
 
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A very well fitted barrel is not a " disadvantage" but a closely fitted barrel that is not perfectly done may be a problem if there is contact / pressure on some points and not others. Free floating is just the quickest way to get acceptable results and is easy to achieve with some sandpaper, a dremel tool and epoxy. Properly fitting a barrel with full contact takes tremendous skill on the part of the stocktaker. I much prefer a well bedded full contact stock, and your Husqvarna was made by a company known for quality craftsmanship. If it shoots OK, don't worry about it, enjoy it!
 
wood pressing on the barrel will cause your shots to vary fro one shot to next. as the barrel gets hot even more. moisture can cause the wood to swell and that will put more pressure on the tube and change POI. JMHO
 
"moisture can cause the wood to swell "

That's how I noticed how tight it was. I like to varnish the barrel channel of new to me wood stocks and I couldn't even get it out of the stock.
 
MD said:
"moisture can cause the wood to swell "

That's how I noticed how tight it was. I like to varnish the barrel channel of new to me wood stocks and I couldn't even get it out of the stock.
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I wonder if it was glass bedded without the benefit of release agent. I've seen "glue jobs" the were shooters. It'll be interesting to see how it groups.
 
Boomer said:
I wonder if it was glass bedded without the benefit of release agent. I've seen "glue jobs" the were shooters. It'll be interesting to see how it groups.
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Mike, I encountered a glue job once. I bought a 30-06 BSA at a gun show for a grand son. Excellent looking rifle, like new bore, in fact like new all over and had an attractive price tag on it. Some dickering and it was mine.
As I always do with a new-to-me rifle, I sit down at a good bench with five cartridges of good known load beside me and fire a five shot group, one after the other, so I can see what happens when the barrel gets hot.
Not a good group, about three inches at hundred yards, but no tendency to move in some direction, which would mean uneven pressure on the barrel.
Stock was really glued on! In short, it was a bit of a miracle that I got it off without damage. Turned out the entire action and barrel were epoxied in. They must have used some type of release agent, or I would never have gotten it apart, but not sufficient to prevent a good glue job.
I sanded out the barrel channel from the recoil lug forward, so the barrel was completely free, then back to the range.
Very little better groups. So I put some folded paper under the barrel at the front of the stock, to put pressure under the barrel. Next five shot group just about made 1 MOA! At home I put a permanent tension block on the stock and grand son very happy with his rifle, as he and his cousin, our other grand son the same age, shoot their 30-06 rifles quite a bit, as well as going on their annual deer hunt. It's an older walnut Browning A bolt I bought for the other grand son.
Bruce
 
"I wonder if it was glass bedded without the benefit of release agent. I've seen "glue jobs" the were shooters. It'll be interesting to see how it groups. "

No, I just got it back from the 'smith where it had trigger and safety work done. Next time I go to the shop I'll ask what he thinks about the tight fit and how he got it out. I tried again yesterday unsuccessfully as it is TIGHT!

I'm really eager to see how it shoots too, but can't get to the range for a while yet.
 
Perhaps a sharp tap with a block of wood to help release the grip. Other option is to take it out, shoot 10 fast shots to warm it up, then quickly remove all the screws and try and tap it out.
 
I've bought rifles that were fully bedded and they shot fine, however my preference is to free float.

With free floating, the barrel has to do all the work. And with a good barrel, that's a good thing. Full length bedding and pressure points can help a mediocre barrel, and they can make "most ammo shoot mostly pretty good" :)

I would shoot it prior to meddling with it. Coukd be the last owner found the best way to make it accurate.
 
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