Re: Barrel block details
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HispanicPanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So i've seen different designs for barrel blocks. I've seen some with an inner shoulder that is sandwiched between the action face & the barrel. I've seen some that are almost press fit forward of the chamber. I've seen some that are cut in half and screwed on top of the barrel, sandwiching it. I've seen some that are square, some octogonal, and some round. I've seen some made of stainless, and some aluminum. I've seen some blocks over the chamber, and i've seen some blocks 8 inches forward of the chamber. I immagine circular ones are easiest to machine, while square ones likely offer the most rigid platform.
Another important question - what is the purpose of leaving the action floated? Once you properly bed the block, wouldn't bedding the action afterward provide an even greater level of rigidity?? I honestly don't think there is any real reason not to bed the action if its done right.
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I don't claim to know anything about barrel block advantages one way or the other, this is just a few things that come to mind while reading your post...
I have a barrel block on my heavy benchrest rifle. It is of the two piece, design. I have four barrels for this rifle, if you intend to switch around at all, I would go this way. A press fit block is a pain for barrel swaps.
The most common reason I've seen for using a barrel block is so you're not hanging a long, heavy barrel off the front of your action. My barrel(s) are 30" long, 1.730" in dia. and weighed 20# prior to threading/chambering. The bottom half of my block is glued/bedded into the stock. My 2x10" BAT action is free floating (this arrangement does work well).
I don't know the answers but, I guess what comes to mind is (I'm thinking about those ultra-slow-motion video's showing a rifle under recoil where everything is flexing somewhat): If you bed your action without screwing it down...is there any potential for unexplained flyers due to flexing then contact between the action & bedding during recoil? If you pillar bed the action and it's not absolutely perfect, are you inducing any additional stress on the barrel or action when they're both screwed/clamped into the stock & block? If you're going to bed the action, what are you really achieving by using a barrel block and not just bedding the barrel to some distance in front of the action? Would there be more stress on the action tennon or barrel under recoil since the barrel would be constrained in the block?
Sorry no answers, just food for thought. Try it both ways. Shoot it before bedding the action, then shoot it after bedding the action. If the bedding is worse or gives you "flyers", the good news is, you can always grind out the bedding and re-float the action. You'll have the peace of mind of knowing how it works both ways. Then, report back.
Sorry for the busy picture, it's the only close up I have showing the block.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Remington 700 LSS in background for some idea of size.</span>
-Rick
