Well, here is my limited experience: I just finished "building" a Model 12 in 6.5 Swede. I bought the action from a fellow who bought it new for a project, then decided to do something else. So, then I bought a Savage factory laminated sporter contour stock and mounted a Shilen stainless barrel to it. When I "bolted" the barreled action to the stock, the barrel is free floated.
Now, a few weeks ago I shot a Savage factory 25-06 pre-accutrigger with a series "J" factory bull barrel on it. This was a factory bench rest gun. (BTW, I shot a 3 shot cloverleaf at 200 yards with this "old" gun!) I checked this barrel with a dollar bill, and it was free floated from the factory....way back when.
So....it seems to me that Savage caught on the this concept quite some time ago.
MHO
Dave