free floaing

[neil rob 0]

whot is the best way to chek if my barrel is free floating on my 223 remington vls thanks

[matt_hooks 188]

Got any rizla's? If not then any thin paper will do.

 

wrap the paper around the barrel and slide it up towards the action. If it goes all the way without catching then it's free floating. If it doesn't, then it's not.

 

Any thin stuff will do, tracing paper, dental floss, anything like that.

[neil rob 0]

Got any rizla's? If not then any thin paper will do.

 

wrap the paper around the barrel and slide it up towards the action. If it goes all the way without catching then it's free floating. If it doesn't, then it's not.

 

Any thin stuff will do, tracing paper, dental floss, anything like that.

 

and if the rizla caches whots the nex step and at whot cost

[paulus 26]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

[neil rob 0]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

 

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[matt_hooks 188]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

 

This is kind of true, but I've always thought that less than a fag paper separation means the barrel is likely to come into contact with the stock during the firing cycle, so it's not truly free floating.

 

Neil, if the fag paper catches it means the gap is a little on the thin side. What's the stock on that rifle?

 

If it's wood, I'd get some fine sand paper and a piece of wooden dowel slightly thinner than the barrel, and gently ease the channel where the paper catches (you'll need to take the action out of the stock to do it) until you can smoothly pass a fag paper all the way down to the action.

 

If it's a synthetic stock, you can do the same, but best to get a gunsmith to have a look first. You're only looking at taking fractions of a mm off, but you don't want to risk over thinning the stock.

[neil rob 0]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

 

This is kind of true, but I've always thought that less than a fag paper separation means the barrel is likely to come into contact with the stock during the firing cycle, so it's not truly free floating.

 

Neil, if the fag paper catches it means the gap is a little on the thin side. What's the stock on that rifle?

 

If it's wood, I'd get some fine sand paper and a piece of wooden dowel slightly thinner than the barrel, and gently ease the channel where the paper catches (you'll need to take the action out of the stock to do it) until you can smoothly pass a fag paper all the way down to the action.

 

If it's a synthetic stock, you can do the same, but best to get a gunsmith to have a look first. You're only looking at taking fractions of a mm off, but you don't want to risk over thinning the stock.

 

the stock is laminet wood i will have a go at it in the morning

[paulus 26]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

 

This is kind of true, but I've always thought that less than a fag paper separation means the barrel is likely to come into contact with the stock during the firing cycle, so it's not truly free floating.

 

Neil, if the fag paper catches it means the gap is a little on the thin side. What's the stock on that rifle?

 

If it's wood, I'd get some fine sand paper and a piece of wooden dowel slightly thinner than the barrel, and gently ease the channel where the paper catches (you'll need to take the action out of the stock to do it) until you can smoothly pass a fag paper all the way down to the action.

 

If it's a synthetic stock, you can do the same, but best to get a gunsmith to have a look first. You're only looking at taking fractions of a mm off, but you don't want to risk over thinning the stock.

 

the expansion of the barrel depends obviously on the rate and ammont of rounds fired. in most pest control situations this counts for nothing as there is very rarely more than 2 rounds fired in quick concession so unless you want to shoot a thingsthat are very far away or loads of stuff quickley dont worry about it

[neil rob 0]

if the paper goes all the way down even if it catches its free floating if if wont its not

 

This is kind of true, but I've always thought that less than a fag paper separation means the barrel is likely to come into contact with the stock during the firing cycle, so it's not truly free floating.

 

Neil, if the fag paper catches it means the gap is a little on the thin side. What's the stock on that rifle?

 

If it's wood, I'd get some fine sand paper and a piece of wooden dowel slightly thinner than the barrel, and gently ease the channel where the paper catches (you'll need to take the action out of the stock to do it) until you can smoothly pass a fag paper all the way down to the action.

 

If it's a synthetic stock, you can do the same, but best to get a gunsmith to have a look first. You're only looking at taking fractions of a mm off, but you don't want to risk over thinning the stock.

 

the expansion of the barrel depends obviously on the rate and ammont of rounds fired. in most pest control situations this counts for nothing as there is very rarely more than 2 rounds fired in quick concession so unless you want to shoot a thingsthat are very far away or loads of stuff quickley dont worry about it

 

I am worryd as i shoot fox on the lamp and a miss is not an optiun

[3jackwhite3 2]

If it groups ok leave it, why fix something that aint broke?

[neil rob 0]

If it groups ok leave it, why fix something that aint broke?

 

if it groupd ok i would not have post on free floating barrel

[matt_hooks 188]

Well, if it's an accuracy problem, whether the barrel is floated or not is unlikely to be your problem.

 

Paulus, I wasn't talking about expansion, I was talking about barrel flex on firing. Watch some of the YouTube videos of slow mo rifle shots and see how much a barrel can flex!

 

If it's not grouping, first off check that all your bolts are good and tight. Many an hour has been spent looking for a problem that's actually down to a stock screw that's worked loose, or a mod or scope not fastened properly.

 

Once you are sure that everything is nice and tight, you can start looking at the crowning and the ammunition.

 

The bedding or otherwise won't make a huge difference to the accuracy.

 

You should be fine sanding a little bit off the stock with a laminate, just take your time and be patient, rushing it will almost certainly end up with a poor result!

[markha 99]

Neil,

Im on the other side of the hills from you and happy to help out if I can, also what are your groupings like then?

[trooperman 73]

i use a tenner to do the float on my rifles it is just thik enough to give that distance between stock and barrel,,,i just fold it around the barrel slowly run it up the barrel to see if ,,where it sticks if it sticks i put a chalk mark on the stock then bit of sanding check again if it still sticks bit more sanding if it dont run it up the rest of the barrel to the action if no more sticking fire 5 rounds check again if still no sticking,,,,take stock of again seal the wood and reassemble making sure all bolts are tight,,,thats my method i am sure there is others but this way works for me and has done for years,,,i only thing i have added in recent years is a inch pounds torque wrench.

 

 

paul

[neil rob 0]

Neil,

Im on the other side of the hills from you and happy to help out if I can, also what are your groupings like then?

 

the gun used to group well at 150 yards i cud put bulet on bulet but be for crimbo i had to take the stock off but sins then its bin shooting shit i tried the rizla and there is no gap so i might take it in to the shop :thumbdown: