Gunsmith - Free float the gun barrel on a rifle

This video provides step by step instructions for free floating the barrel on a bolt action rifle. Hosted by Larry Potterfield, CEO and Founder of MidwayUSA, this GunTec production makes it easy for anyone to perform this simple task. Free floating refers to the process of relieving material from the barrel channel so there is not any contact between the stock and the barrel of the rifle. This prevents the point of impact from changing due to fluctuations in relative humidity. The identification and removal of the necessary material is performed using inletting black, masking tape, and a barrel bedding tool like the ones produced by Gunline. A simple test to ensure that your barrel is free floated is to slide a dollar bill between the barrel and the stock. If the bill slides freely back and forth, then the barrel is properly free floated.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• MidwayUSA
• Larry
• Potterfield
• gunsmith
• gun
• shooting
• gun-repair
• guntec
• barrel-bedding
• gunsmithing-tools
• rifle

[njmvermont]

please respond. im getting a marlin bolt action in 17mach2 and it has a heavy target barrel. will it need free floating. the reason for the free floating being the wood in the stock expanding and contracting due to weather and putting pressure in the barrel. will target barrel fix this without free floating it

[MidwayUSA]

@njmvermont If your new barrel still contacts the wood, you will need to free-float. Even though the barrel has a heavy contour, the contact from the stock can still act as a barrier to potential accuracy.

Thanks for Your Business!

[marinesusarule]

Thank u for this video. I recently decided to become a gunsmith. But I don't know where to start. Any tips?

[MidwayUSA]

@marinesusarule Please check your inbox, we have forwarded over some gunsmithing school information.

Thanks for Your Business!

[TonyInTopeka]

Does the same thing apply to synthetic stocks?

[MidwayUSA]

@TonyInTopeka Free-floating works for synthetic stocks as well. Anytime you can remove pressure on the barrel, your firearm will be more accurate.

Thanks for Your Business!

[SurvivalPax]

It has to do with the natural harmonics of the barrel. The barrel actually flexes when a shot is fired.

Think of a bell. When you ring the bell, it has certain sound. When you ring the barrel while touching it, it makes a different sound.

Likewise, as different parts of the barrel are touched by the stock during different weather changes, the barrel harmonics change. The barrel flexes differently than when it was sighted in, thus changing the point of impact.

[BusterdBodycrab]

This does not truly "Improve Accuracy". By it's self. When you do this, it reduces outside influences. Accuracy is the combination of the mechanical, human skill and outside influences (Nature).

Most factory guns will out shoot the shooters skill. If you want to reduce outside mechanical influences, then you inlet the stock. Piller, bed or combination. Tune the trigger, lap bolt & scope rings. Hand load ammo, sling work, wind, sun, humidity & above all trigger time. Both range and dry firing.

[deeisneat]

@MidwayUSA I would very much appreciate it if you could send me that gunsmithing school information also.

[MidwayUSA]

@WeAreTwoDoorsDown Free-floating works for synthetic stocks as well. Anytime you can remove pressure on the barrel, your firearm will be more accurate.

Thanks for Your Business!

[Noobpatty]

Larry doesn't seem as chipper in this video as usual...

[WeAreTwoDoorsDown]

@MidwayUSA I've heard about free-floating for a while, and I was wondering if it's possible on synthetic stocks?

Unrelated, but I just placed an order on MidwayUSA, and the ordering experience is much nicer than your... "competitors"

[1979aerocaprice]

@Fisherguy28 yes sir