Author Topic: Floating an Encore Barrel (Read 819 times)

Ken424 · « **on:** January 09, 2005, 07:52:13 AM »

I own an NEF in .17 HMR. Floating the barrel was an easy project on that gun and everyone suggests doing this to the NEF rifles. Does a person need to float the barrel on an Encore? If so, what is the best way of going about this project? Thanks for all your help!

Flash · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2005, 09:00:08 AM »

I owned two NEF's and floated both with mixed results. The 243 just wouldn't shoot regardless of what was done to it. Now, to answer your question. My Encore is floated with faucet washers due to a Harris bipod but I didn't have to float it until I installed the bipod. I sighted it in while resting the gun at the frame pivot and got surprisingly good accuracy but after installing the bipod, the group opened up wildly. I also filled the countersinks on the inside of the forearm with acraglass and redrilled them for a solid base for the washers.

22popnsplat · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2005, 01:58:50 PM »

My .223 barrel shot great right out of the box , My 22 hornet did need to be floated . I used a pair of small rubber washers were the forend screws attach , I just glued in the $.06 washers and it shoot better than my .223

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2005, 03:28:16 PM »

I use the rubber washers too. THey work very well for floating the barrel. One of the main reasons that floating the barrel is so important is that it tends to maintain zero better than if not free floated.

robk · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2005, 11:16:01 PM »

here's another question to go along with the washer answer. do you buy longer screws to fit inside the hole with te washer in place? i am thinking you would need a bit longer screw???also would it be better to use a stainless instead of the blued screw and has anyone used a allen head screws instead of the flathead screws as i keep having problems with messing up the slot with a flat head??
thanks
rob k