Floating barrel w/o bedding

[fieldratsniper]

alright guys, this is kind of a weird question. but can i trim my forend to float the barrel without bedding the action?

the reason i ask is because because my Rem 700 Lim Ed shoots really well with out being bedded,always under 1", and ususally under .5"), so i kinda dont want to mess with a good thing. but i also have the urge to trim the stock so the barrel is floating. will it shoot better or worse?

should i...

A. leave it alone.

B. float it.

C. float and glass bed it.

?????

thanks

 

[FatBoy]

You're taking your chances if you cut it. Most rifles shoot better fully floated, but not all of them. You have a 50/50 shot.

Chris...

 

[Preacher]

Most, but not all light barreled 700's need that bit of upwards pressure to shoot great.
If you cut it and the groups go south, then just apply a bit of upward pressure again.
I floated my 7mm SAUM after pillar bedding, and glassing it, and it shot way better than most will.

 

[fieldratsniper]

thanks for the reply guys. i should have given some info on the rifle.

its a limited edition thru accusport. its basically a sendero or VSSFII,with out the aluminum bedding blocks)in a XR100 lamintated thumbhole stock,except the solid bottom). its got the stainless fluted heavy .82" barrel.

the only thing ive done to it is put in a jewell trigger.

gunamonth, id appreciate it if you could get your neighbors thoughts on this.

thanks again guys,
jeremy

 

[fieldratsniper]

alright, sounds good. i kinda figured it was foated too untill i took it off the stock to put the trigger in. it wasnt bedded, so when it was assembled i tried to run a dollar bill under the barrel.....not floating.

but as i said before, it shoots really well. unless i make a mistake, its always under an inch with any ammo, usually under .75" and commonly throws them in under .5". my best 3 shot group is .21"

oh yeah, its a 22-250

 

[fieldratsniper]

thanks a lot for checking with him for me.

i have never used inch-pounds for anything. is 30 in-pounds the same as 2.5 ft-pounds?

im just going to leave the rifle alone untill the barrel is done. but i will torque the action like he suggests.

i bought a nice rifle rest to use for sighting-in but i dont like it, so i do all my shooting with a bipod and a rear sandbag.

i went out the other day to check my zero at 200yrds,shooting off of the roof of my truck with the bipod and rear bag). after i got it right on,i was shooting 2" high....no wonder my varmint reticle distance bars were off!!!) i shot a 1.3" three-shot group at 200. that is about .62MOA right? i was shooting the 45grain winchester value pack too.

i love this rifle, its a good shooter and it looks absolutely beautiful. the only thing i dont like about it is that the recoil is too much to stay on target to see bullet impact consistantly. when shooting squirrels alone, i just listen for the pop. i think im gonna get a remington XR100 in 204.

thanks again for the help...
jeremy