2007-07-23 09:24:06 · 5 answers · asked by junkman 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
A "Floating Barrel" means that the action of the gun is fitted tightly to the wood and the receiver is bedded and form fitted, usally with fiberglass bedding material. BUT,from the action forward to the muzzle the barrel is whats called "free floating". The barrel is suspended just above the wood but isn't touching the stock. This is usually done by a Gunsmith in the accurizing process of building a target or long range hunting rifle (or sniping rifle). By letting the barrel free float not touching the stock, it controls and dissipates the heat created when each shot is fired, making the gas and metal expansion of the barrel more uniform and increases the accuracy . If you can take a piece of regular paper and slide it under the barrel and out the other side without hitting the stock. (This is how you check to see if a rifle has a free floating barrel)
2007-07-23 10:08:27 · answer #1 · answered by JD 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'll add to that answer. The rifle is attached to the stock at two points normally. At the point where the barrel is screwed into the receiver and at the rear where the trigger guard is screwed into the rear tang (just under the back end of the bolt) Those are the only two places that are needed for attachment. Some rifles have the barrel supported by the forend of the stock especially the Manlicher type. Experience has proven that having the stock touching the barrel can and will cause the zero of the rifle to shift as the barrel heats up. Or if the stock gets wet and swells. So the usually thing to do is to make sure the action is solid into the stock with some type of bedding compound (called glas bedding) and that the barrel is floating (does not touch the forend) This enhances the accuracy of a rifle. Be aware that it does not guarantee a accurate rifle, that comes from the inside of the barrel and the ammunition you shoot.
2007-07-23 17:57:57 · answer #2 · answered by sargeArmy 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A floated barrel is when the barrel of the gun does not touch the stock at any point. Instead, the floating barrels have a piece just before the barrel that attaches to the stock.
2007-07-23 16:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by irish 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Any excess material inside the stock where it touches the barrel has been removed so there are no pressure points. The theory being that when fired the barrel's harmonic balance is coincentric for the entire length.
2007-07-23 18:30:32 · answer #4 · answered by acmeraven 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that is a barrel that does not come in contact with the bed of the stock after the barrel leaves the reciever.
2007-07-25 23:01:11 · answer #5 · answered by PETER J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋