barrel clamping

[jazzdog]

I want to change my .22 to use a barrel clamp system
do I clamp the barrel hard in the clamp or use o rings

 

[spclark]

Good question.

Benchrest actions traditionally have been hard-clamped, though very recently one fellow's found he gets much better results using a fitted Delrin sleeve between his clamp and the barrel. I'm not sure neoprene o-rings wouldn't be too compliant, being considerably softer than Delrin or similar materials.

One high-power stock manufacturer - Mike Ross of Ross Precision up in Michigan - has been making hard-clamped barrels a feature of his aluminum high-power stock for many years. Some folks have said they believe the system makes finding a "load that shoots" more difficult, others don't share that opinion at all.

I use one for long range in the summer, swapping out a Kimber SVT barreled action for smallbore in the winter. I use an aluminum shim to make up the difference in barrel diameter, otherwise the Kimber's barrel is too small to work.