[norseman112]

Well I went wally world today and bought some white box winchester ammo. I was getting .75 to 1 inch group at 100 yards. I free floated by barrel once before and I didn't have good luck with clean barrel with reloads and it shot better without the "O" ring. So just for the heck of it I had the "O" ring in my gun box and put it back on.(I know I just can't leave things alone). My groups went to 1/2" but shot 2 inches high (clean barrel) but they grouped and didn't string. Then they went were they were supposed to after my first 3 shot group. the rest of my 3 shot groups at 100 yrds were for the most part as good as my first after free floating again. I then shot 3 shot group at 200 yrds and had a 1 inch group. I didn't take my handi completely apart when I cleaned it because I didn't want to move anything. Now I am debating what to do. Is there a better way to free float the barrel then the "O" ring method? I am thinking of getting it bedded but not sure how this will affect other barrels I want to buy. Thanks

 

[handirifle]

Norseman
When I floated mine I used a piece of flat rubber. Cut it into an oval shape (to fit in the recess in the forend) and then cut out a hole with a paper punch for the barrel lug.

Only downside it it seems to move a tad, side to side.

 

[stuffit]

floating the barrel

When I restocked (it would work fine on an original forend) my BC, I just enlarged the barrel channel a little with a slightly undersized sandpaper wrapped dowel rod, , resealed it, and put epoxy pillars fore and aft of the forend screw slot. It has been solid as stone for a while now. It wouldn't lend itself to the subsitiution of another barrel of different contour, but it does hold the "float" very well.

 

[lostsniper308]

I sanded out ahead of the 'stud slot' to float it and i get 1"@100yrds. I too had the O-ring and my gun hated it. I'd go with the setup that has the zero hold and has nice groups rather than stringing.

p.s. I'm still tweaking my loads so groups may improve.

 

[norseman112]

Thanks guys for your help. I will fool around with some ideas...maby i am being to fussy because my handi shoots less than a inch with no free floating. I guess I like to tinker around and it gives me a reason to go to the range more often.

 

[handirifle]

Never hurts to experiment, just so long as you can reverse the experiment if it doesn't work.

 

[lostsniper308]

what ever works for ya, exploit it.