Barrel nut free float?

**grouse** · 03-17-2018, 09:38 PM

I dropped my action into a new Stockade. The action does not appear to be seating properly in the stock. The barrel nut is providing the contact point at the front of the action. So much so that the receiver does not touch the stock at the front action screw. A piece of paper will slide between the bottom of the receiver and the stock. Should I free float the barrel nut? Hope that makes sense?

**RustyShackle** · 03-17-2018, 10:52 PM

In your case I think I would. Hopefully the stock is not otherwise warped.

edit: You might double check the barrel channel and what will happen if you mill out the bbl nut area. Make sure everything lines up correctly. I bought(still have it) a butler creek stock for a 10/22. The forend was warped so that the action did sit as it should. I sanded and filed and bedded it with jb weld. Lots of work.

**Robinhood** · 03-17-2018, 11:04 PM

If you have an aftermarket lug, Im betting the lug is bottoming out first.

**foxx** · 03-17-2018, 11:43 PM

^^^^This

**grouse** · 03-18-2018, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by Robinhood

If you have an aftermarket lug, Im betting the lug is bottoming out first.

That was my first thought too but that's not it.

**foxx** · 03-18-2018, 08:29 AM

I think you gotta do whatever you gotta do to make the action settle into place without drawing it into the stock when tightening the screws. If there's a gap at the action screw area, beforehand, you know you will be stressing the action and bending it (stock and/ or the action) when you tighten the screws. Final test for stress free "mount" is whether the action screws gradually tighten when installing. Ideally, they should turn easily then feel like they suddenly STOP when tight.

Therefore, the nut does not necessarily need total free float, it just can't be allowed to cause a gap in the pillar area.