Floating barrels

[Mayor of Hobbs Knob]

An interesting problem arose with my favorite barrel, a .35 Rem hunter.  I free floated it using thin washers.  While cleaning it, the treaded socket slipped out of the dovetail slot.  I'm think that this may become a problem with other barrels I've floated.  Normally, as you tighten the fore end screws, they draw the fore end down against the barrel and pull the dovetailed socket tighter in the bevel.  However, when you free float using washers, the first contact is the washer against the shoulder of the screw socket.  The screw and the socket essentially become one piece at that point and no pressure is exerted against the matching dovetail bevels.  Heat, recoil, handpressure, etc. can work the dovetail loose.
   Has anyone else experience a similar problem?  I'm thinking I'll go back and redo all my barrels using Graybeard's tape pad method.  That allows limited contact between barrel and fore end and allows some pressure to be put on the dovetail.  
    I'm I wrong here?

[helobill]

Mayor,
The dovetail should be a tight fit, same as the front or rear sights on a lot of guns (should take a drift pin and hammer to move it). Sounds like either your dovetail slot has become oversize (maybe someone tightened those screws a little too tight and streached them, unlikely but I guess it could happen), or the screw post dovetail has become undersize (more possible 'cause it should be slightly softer metal and may have become worn through the tightening process of the forend screws.) I've used a center punch to slightly raise a couple 'bumps' on the flat side of the screw post and then reinstalled and they've held pretty well. Never had to do this with my Contender barrels but on other guns. I've seen folks put them in place and use a center punch to stake them in place, but that puts a ding in the barrel and I don't like that. Drift out the second dovetail if you've got one and see if it's the dovetail or the screw post that is the offender would be my suggestion. If it's the screw post, I'd guess T/C would replace it for little or no cost. Best I can suggest.
Bill

[Bullseye]

I have had them fall out a couple of times and I do not float my barrels.  T/C sent me some new ones and they always pushed in tight and never caused me any more problems.  T/C says it is from overtightening, they say to just snug the screws up.