FREE FLOAT vs BEDDED

[Dieseldog]

a little research on my CZ 455 varmint tactical to find the accuracy I found that the best free float would be at least (5) five dollar bills .............some people use (3) three..........but (1) ONE SINGLE BILL is not the correct free float which makes sense because the firing has to move at least that much......
they also state that the thinner barrel is the one that needs to be bedded basically to stiffen .......but you cant believe everything online......can you?  open to all opinions guys....like to set it up right

I see that the bedding may also be required .....where action is located....found another you tube...

[DWARREN]

I have found that it depends on the individual rifle. Use non permanent measures to test to see which works best for it then modify.

[FieldGrade]

Bed the action and float the barrel.

I use a business card to check the float tolerance.

This works on all my bolt action rifles. Center fire and rim fire alike.

[Blackwatch]

Agree with both previous responses - would suggest getting good target grade ammo and make temporary incremental changes while shooting groups of 5 or something...to determine impact of change. When you get to the optimal point make the adjustment(s) permanent.

[cewrx7r1]

453 model
I bedded my action area with the barrel free floating. Then tried free floating both.
Ended with both free floating but with brass plate inserts between the two action mounts and the wood stock, and only tighten down to about 15 inch pounds.

Truthfully what seems to affect accuracy besides me in order of importance:
(1) A perfectly clean barrel is worst thing to do, best to just do a simple barrel clean to get power residue out.
    Only after shooting many rounds like 500, then do complete clean.
(2) Ammo is most important. My results.
Hornady      17 gr V-Max and CCI A17 17 gr Varmit Tip #1.
Remington  17 gr Accutip-V #2.
Federal       17 gr V-Shok #3.
Winchester 17 gr V-Max Supreme #4.
 

[M1A4ME]

If the barrel makes contact in the barrel channel then it can affect the groups as the barrel warms up.

Even though the barrel/wood may not make contact while you're checking it, what about when you rest the forend on a block of wood, or a back pack or bipod.  Contact isn't good.

I think some barrels are affected more by heat than others.

I used a credit card to check for barrel to barrel channel clearance.

I removed some wood from the stock where it contacted the receiver and about 1.5 inches in front of the receiver. 

Then we put three coats of release compound on the receiver/barrel (removed the trigger assembly and mixed up the acraglas).

Took it out of the stock the next day, cleaned the release compound off the metal and bedding compound and put it all back together.  After that, with 50 grain bullets that little sporter barreled .222 Remington would put 3 shots under a dime at 150 yds.  I wonder if my buddy still has it (that was over 30 years ago).

[bamajoey]

I hav ea 455 Varmint mounted in a BR stock with a .900 Lilja barrel that is bedded all the way to the end of the stock.
Shoots great.