Marlin Camp 45, worth a free-float?

[bikemutt]

I've been messing around with that Marlin I picked up a few weeks ago. I bought a picattiny scope rail for it and mounted a Redfield 3-9x40 scope I had laying around, the intention being to discover more about the inherent accuracy of the rifle. Up until this time I was shooting it at 50 yards with plate-sized groups using irons and a red-dot.

I noticed that the barrel was not free-floated, could not get a dollar bill to even get in between the stock and the barrel. A quick trip to Ace Hardware yielded a some nylon washers, each 1/16" thick. It took two washers on each screw, 1/8", to finally let me slide a bill all the way up to the receiver.

I could only get to the 25 yard indoor range today but I easily nailed < 1" 5-shot groups using factory reloaded ammo. So I'm encouraged that the rifle has potential to be at least as accurate as an AK, or close, what I don't know at this point is would it make any difference if the barrel was not free-floated?

I realize that shimming the action is not the right way to do it in the long run, figured it was a quick and cheap way to test things out. And of course the answer can be discovered by simply trying it, which I will. Anyway, if anyone wants to share thoughts on free-floating a rifle barrel and why that may, or may not make a difference to this specimen, I'd like to hear it.

Thanks

 

[chestnut ridge]

fixing to crack your stock

if you shoot the camp 45 very much before you replace the original
spring with a Wolff 21# recoil spring; and replace the old recoil
buffer pad with a Blackjack buffer.
The original wood stock is valuable and most want it unaltered.
Choate makes a nice synthetic stock that has plenty of clearance.

 

[bikemutt]

Already replaced the spring and buffer, all good. And have the Choate stock; it really doesn't float.

 

[Domino]

I don't see how free floating is going to help that much, its not ever going to be a sub moa weapon. If its doing 1" at 25 yards then you should be able to get 4-6" at 100 yards, which is pretty typical for pistol caliber carbines. Your best bet would be to try some match ammo or work up some reloads and see what shoots best.

 

[Big Shrek]

Boyd's Riflestocks does have laminate wood stocks and walnut for the Camp 9 & 45.

If you know what you are doing, you can mod a Camp 9 stock for the Marlin Camp 922M as well.

At this time, there is no better stock maker for Marlin rifles of all kinds.
Definitely nobody as proliferate

 

[bikemutt]

Last time I checked Boyds camp carbine stocks are unfinished, may require fitting and finishing.

 

[mnhntr]

definitely not worth a free float, you should box it up and send it directly to my FFL.

 

[bikemutt]

LOL!