Floating Barrels?
05-06-2005, 08:50 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: currently Fort Drum, NY
Posts: 3,677
Floating Barrels?
We got a savage .270 that has a floating barrel. i know what it is cuz its basically a barrel that is well floating. but i dont really get how this helps the gun. does it help with accuracy or what?
thanks yall
thanks yall
05-06-2005, 09:12 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pine Hill Alabama USA
Posts: 1,280
RE: Floating Barrels?
Here is an exerpt from an article by Russ Chastain
When a rifle barrel heats up due to the high temperatures resulting from firing a cartridge, the metal naturally expands as it heats. Pressure on various points along its length from high spots in the barrel channel cut into the stock can cause the barrel to bend ever so slightly as it heats up, which naturally may cause bullets to fly someplace other than where the previous shot(s) went.
Since a floated barrel doesn't touch the stock along its length, that variable is removed from the equation. Sometimes it works to improve repeatable accuracy, and sometimes it doesn't. Floating is at its best when used with rifles that have relatively heavy (large diameter) "bull" barrels, because they are less flexible than slimmer barrels. Lighter "sporter" barrels are less stable, and may flex enough during the shot that accuracy will suffer.
Since a floated barrel doesn't touch the stock along its length, that variable is removed from the equation. Sometimes it works to improve repeatable accuracy, and sometimes it doesn't. Floating is at its best when used with rifles that have relatively heavy (large diameter) "bull" barrels, because they are less flexible than slimmer barrels. Lighter "sporter" barrels are less stable, and may flex enough during the shot that accuracy will suffer.
05-06-2005, 09:44 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: Floating Barrels?
Here's a good article I found recently that talks in part, about floating barrels.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/factor...uracy_one.html
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/factor...uracy_one.html
05-06-2005, 10:01 PM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,127
RE: Floating Barrels?
I agree completely with Russ Chastain - one thing to add . . . the biggest advantage of a free floating barrel, from a hunting rifle perspective, is its tendency to hold a relatively consistent point of impact over a wide variety of temperature and humidity conditions. Even if it doesn't group quite as well on any given day, the dependability of its zero is generally worth it.
05-07-2005, 06:16 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,471
RE: Floating Barrels?
Double edged sword.. I have spoken to gunsmiths who absolutely do not freefloat barrels and prefer to full bed action and barrel..NULA ships all their rifles in this condition and has found it to work best. ONce again they have a slight barrel on their rifles whereas a heavier countour may shoot better free floated. The Late Mel Smart absolutely told me he would not restock my rifle with a free floating barrel because the possibility of ice and forest debris getting between the barrel and foreend. Half my rifles are free floated , some are pressure point bedded and the rest are full length bedded. My newest rifle will come home completely free floated to the recoil lug but in the conditions I am going to hunt it is not a big deal. None of my rifles shoot that much better regardless of bedding .
05-07-2005, 06:23 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: Floating Barrels?
I think the guy who makes the NULA rifles has the right idea- full length bed the barrel to an extremely stiff stock. Seems like it should dampen vibrations and shoot any ammo well.
It just wouldn't work with most of the production rifles with synthetic stocks. Most of these stocks are pretty much junk which cannot even be used for firewood.lol
It just wouldn't work with most of the production rifles with synthetic stocks. Most of these stocks are pretty much junk which cannot even be used for firewood.lol
05-07-2005, 08:25 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Floating Barrels?
What you talking about? Briman you send me some split up old stocks, walnut or maple of course and I will use em for firewood.
You know I just got a older rem 700 1981 vintage 7mm-08. Its pressure bedded. Has a bull barrel and real nice walnut stock. My standard operation is to break out the dremel tool and get to work, but it shoots good as is, so I will leave it that way until it starts stringing or something. First time for everything.
You know I just got a older rem 700 1981 vintage 7mm-08. Its pressure bedded. Has a bull barrel and real nice walnut stock. My standard operation is to break out the dremel tool and get to work, but it shoots good as is, so I will leave it that way until it starts stringing or something. First time for everything.