Gunsmithing Free floating a barrel in a new stock

[Brandon05_88]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and have a question.
I recently received a new Bell and Carlson A5 for my Rem 700. I began to sand the texture out of the barrel channel and noticed that the barrel favors one side of the channel. I checked, with my calipers, and there is a difference of 0.020" tighter on the right side. I intend to later bed this rifle. I was wondering if I will be able to center the barrel during the bedding process without inducing any stress? Thanks.

 

[redbullitt]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

I would get a nice fat wooden dowel rod and wrap it with sandpaper. Works pretty well for me when i have to open barrel channels. Just do it gradually and keep checking clearance until you are happy with it.

I could be wrong, but if you get enough clearance between the stock and barrel, I think it should be ok. I will wager that the stock is simply uneven where you notice it being closer to the barrel. The action "should" line up in the stock, so that "shouldn't" be a problem. A photo could be helpful.

Welcome to the hide BTW

 

[eddief]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

When you bed the rifle, open up the recoil lug area. This will more than likely give you the lateral movement you will need to center your barrel in the channel, with some tape around the barrel, while the bedding is setting up.

Do a search on bedding here, lots of great info.

Welcome to the Hide!

 

[Brandon05_88]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

That's pretty much what I did. I measured the barrel around mid length and determined a 7/8" dowel would be best. I started sanding with 220, then to 400, then finally 800 (kinda overkill). Then, I placed the action/barrel in, snugged up the action screws and started looking/measuring. Currently, I have 0.050" clearance on the left side of the channel and 0.030" clearance on the right side of the channel at the forend. When I go to bed the action, I'm going to place enough tape at the forend to center the barrel. I'm just curious if it will induce any stress.

 

[Brandon05_88]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

Thanks eddief. I'll definately check it when I go home. Yes, I've spent all morning reading the bedding threads. I've bedded one rifle before mostly as an experiment. I just want to make sure and get this one right.

 

[monteboy84]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

Shouldn't be a problem, but you'll probably need to relieve the aluminum bedding block to give you some more freedom of movement when you bed it. I only say this because those stocks are meant to be shot without bedding (which I don't recommend) so the bedding block will create stress for you if you try to 're-center' your barrel.

-matt

 

[BigMahi]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

Think of it this way - your action and barrel are perfectly centered (assuming the wction screws are properly torqued into the aluminum block), its only that the "tighter" side of the stock needs more sanding to make the free float distance bw the barrel and stock even all around. I have the same stock and the barrel is closer to the right side of the stock. As long as a free float buffer exists bw stock and barrel, it shouldn't affect acuracy.

 

[Brandon05_88]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

I'm going to torque both screws to 48 in-lbs. I would probably have to had sanded another 0.010" to make an even amount of free float. Looking at the stock again, I loosened the action screws and aligned the ejection port. This required moving an amount that moved the recoil lug off the aluminum block. I noticed that the tang had some play side to side. I believe when I bed the action, this should all work out. I'm going to place masking tape in two places on the barrel and use long 1/4x28 bolts with masking tape to close up the action bolt holes along with aligning up the ejection port. I'm still debating on devcon or steel bed for bedding material.

 

[kill_goose]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

I had this same problem.

I didnt worry about the channel (as long as it wasnt touching). You want to be more lined up with the bedding block than in the channel. You can always clean out the channel once you get the action sitting right where you want it.

.030" or .050", doesnt matter as long as its not touching.

Having an uneven gap from one side to the other does make shimming the barrel in the channel for the bedding job trickier, but not impossible.

I would bed, THAN clean up the barrel channel once you know for sure where everything is gonna sit. (that is of course confirming you wont have contact with the channel during the bedding process)

 

[Brandon05_88]

Re: Free floating a barrel in a new stock

Yeah, I believe that'll be best. I've evened out the amount I sanded on each side. I'm just going to tape up the barrel and place long bolts in the action screw holes and bed. Then I'll do the even amount of free float on the sides. I realize having even thickness of stock at the forend is purely cosmetic, but I'm kind of OCD about things being the best I can do. Thanks everyone for the responses. Glad I wasn't having some off the wall problem.