Free floating a 722

[Confederate rifleman]

Anybody out there free float their 722? My .300 definately has a bedding issue.Groups are very nice and consistent if I rest the forend out closer to the pressure pad( factory bedding).However , if I rest mid forend groups tend to go high and right and increase in size. Right now she's factory bedded, no mods, and has alittle contact on the right side right at the top of the barrel channel about an inch back from the end of the forearm. I'm wondering if floating the barrel would be benificial.The barrel is a 24 inch factory tube and not of heavy contour.I'm also curious if glassing the breech area along with floating the remainder would be best.She's extremely accurate and i dont want to mess that up.However,I do require a consistent point of impact regardless of rest tension.Thanks!

[gunnut69]

The first step in free floating a barrel is to assure support for the front action ring and the reenforce on the barrel. This provides the action rigidity to correctly align the barrel each time it's fired and allow it to start it's shot incuced vibration from the same point for each shot. I usuall relieve barrel pressure before bedding an action and always bed an action before completing a barrel free float. Also on the M722(and 721) the middle action screw can have an adverse effect on accuracy. I have even gone to the extreme of replacing it with a screw the does not enter the action but a fixture lower down, sometimes a wood screw sometimes a metal screw.. I've found that with proper bedding and an even pressure point the barrel screw has a good effect most times.. Remember there is no one cure for rifle accuracy problems, there are many and most are interelated..