[ed dixon]

When I picked up my CZ 550 last week a young guy at the store slipped a piece of paper between the barrel and stock and commented approvingly that it had a free-floated barrel. I think since then, however, I've seen someone mention that he planned to have his gun of the same model free-floated by a smith. What exactly qualifies as a free-floated barrel and do I have one? I read that the Ching Sling I purchased for my new buddy would perform better with said feature. Thanks. Ed

[CMcDermott]

A "free-floated" barrel in one where the only support for the barrel comes from where it is screwed into the receiver. Thus the demonstartion of sliding a piece of paper between the barrel and the stock for the full length of the barrel. Often the paper will catch at the end of the stock, where a pressure point is delibrately created to "push up" on the barrel to help limit the amplitude of the vibrations created by a shot. Some barrels shoot best free-floated, some with a pressure point, some it just doesn't seem to matter.

[Art Eatman]

The positive results of free-floating are enhanced when a sling is used. There is no change in pressure on the barrel from shot to shot, which makes for best accuracy. No matter how hard you try, you won't have exactly the same tension on a sling, every time. Close, yeah, but not "exactly exact".

Art

[ed dixon]

Okay, how many folks prize this feature? Is its main advantage that it helps nullify the pull from a sling? Any reason to want it if a sling isn't being used?

[critter]

Mixed answer! Some guns (seems mainly with small barrels) actually shoot tighter groups when the forearm touches and actually applies a little upward pressure near the end of the forearm.

Howeve, changes in temp and moisture can and often does change a stock pressure enough so that the point of impact changes with chaning conditions. I personally like a free floated stock because I want it to shoot to the same place EVERY time even if the group is a little larger.

If you REALLY want to find a good gun, shoot a 12 shot group at 100 yards-ONE shot at a target, go home. Next month (same day of the month) shoot one shot. 12 times-over a full year. Now, if THAT is a small group, centered on POI, you have a real keeper! Free floated guns WILL do that nicely quite often.

[larryw]

Its not just the sling where you benefit, although that's when you'll probably notice it most. When shooting offhand or from a rested field position, where you place your hand or rest will affect the pressure on the stock forend. If the forend is pressing against the barrel, this can change the POI of the shot and harmonic of barrel (to see this in action, from a rest, shoot a shot, then apply pressure on a barrel and shoot again, notice change in impact point). On a properly floated barrel, where and how you hold the gun, slinged or not, won't change the POI.

Harmonic of barrel: the barrel vibrates/bends/dances as the bullet travels down the bore. If you let the barrel freely move, the muzzle will be pointed in the same spot as the bullet exits and the shot will be more consistent. But if the barrel bounces off the stock, who knows where it will hit. That's the theory, at least. Theory and reality don't always align.

Wood stocks will move about with changes in temp and humidity, this too will affect POI. A floated barrel solves the vast majority of changes in POI associated with the climate induced movement of wood stocks. Synthetic and laminated stocks don't have this problem.

As a general rule, you want to be able to freely slip at least dollar bill or business card between the stock and barrel from fore to receiver. A thin piece of paper may not offer enough relief from the movement of the barrel and/or stock. Bang on the forend, is it stiff (good) or do you feel it hitting the barrel (bad)?