Freefloat or not?

[upnorthbacon]

I found the perfect washer to freefloat my new Buffalo Classic.  I'm going to shoot it tomorrow, and I'm trying to conserve the ammo I have until after hunting season.  How many people freefloat them, and does it always make it more accurate?

[bikerbeans]

UNB,

Seems the rule of thumb is to shoot your gun w/o the forestock attached and if groups improve over shooting with the forestock on then you need to relieve the forestock in some manner.  Lots of folks use a small "O" ring but there are a lot of ways to skin that cat.  If you don't see significant improvement with the forestock removed then working on the forestock may not help much.  All of this and more is in the FAQs sticky at the top of this forum.

Good luck hunting this year.

BB

[torpedoman]

There is not much to be gained free floating a hunting rifle if it shoots to the same point the first shot reliably. things change when you are shooting groups due to heat buildup

[Lefty Dude]

I have O rings on all my Handi-Barrels. Also fore end screw stop set screws. In my Opinion they make a big difference.

[digs68]

I've been fiddling with my .308 Handi. After I had sent it in for the "Fail To Fire" issue, and they did the trans bar upgrade, etc, the trigger pull was much nicer and it shot much better groups as well. It still was lacking a bit, so I did the forearm thing (relieved a little pressure at the screw lug and added the O-ring).
After a few fine-tuning shots and letting the barrel cool, I was dropping 'em into the red of a 1/2" bullseye at 100 yds fairly consistently.
I'd say it's definitely worth the time to try it at least. I would stress though to let the barrel cool after 3-4 shots, or you will be cussing and adjusting your scope for no good reason. Take 3 shots, set it down & let it cool a bit, then take a couple more. Luckily for me, at this time of the year (deer season), I have plenty of other rifles to shoot and fine-tune while it cools. They're not mine, but others who wanted theirs (or their back-up) fine tuned at the last minute.
Of course I'm more than happy to oblige! 

[pruhdlr]

There is a third option. Pressure point. (This, on my 444Marlin)

I cut a small piece of plastic from the lid of a ice cream bucket and installed it under the bbl,attached to the forearm with some Gorilla Glue. Before I glued it I expieramented with moveing it back and forth and the torque on the mounting screw. Torque was checked with my F.A.T. Wrench and I settled on 25in lbs.

Did this make a huge difference. Not much,but then I am a tinker'er. ----pruhdlr

[upnorthbacon]

I found a washer which was the perfect fit under the forearm.  It freefloats enough to slide a dollar between the stock and barrel.  Shot yesterday and the gun was an absolute tack driver.  I'll leave it with the washer in for the time being, I didn't have enough ammo to try both ways to see which worked better.  I can't imagine it being any more accurate without the spacer considering the groups I was shooting with it.

[Lefty Dude]

So, what is the perfect washer ?

[aromakr]

I too have a .308 that I converted to a .307, first shot from a cold barrel would print 2 1/2 to 3" low. A pressure point at the end of the forearm solved the problem. You will have to experiment as each barrel is different. Since the handi barrels are not stress relieved they could move in any direction when they warm up, just the nature of the beast.
Bob

[necchi]

So, what is the perfect washer ?

I know your asking upnorthbacon, but I'd like to interject for new members that an "O" ring itself isn't always the pat answer.
I have come across 2 foreams where the routing for the barrel underlug was so deep the "O" ring listed in the faqs did nothing. There was No added contact, the Oring was simply in there filling empty space.
And aromakr mentioning a contact point up front is interesting also, (a T/C trick) that's covered in the faqs too, If I remember it was a Gent experimenting by adding a business card for pressure.
I you really wanna dial these things in, ya gotta goof around with it, but the cost of ammo nowadays can be a limiting factor for alot of guys.

I've had good luck with the RTV Bedding/Freefloat technique, but it's been the hand loading thats really done it for me.