As usual, the answer is "it depends". I have a few older remingtons, that like the upward force on the barrel. They shoot subMOA. So I sure ain't going to monkey with them. But I have a few bolts that didn't shoot well with that forend pressure, so I grinded it out, and with the help on several on here, I freefloated and glass bedded them. And now they shoot better.

As far as heavy barrel is concerned, I find the heavy barrel has better cold bore performance and not as finicky when working up a handload.