Originally Posted by
Pawildman
..... I totally understand your theory, and I'm certainly not saying you are wrong at all. I'm simply using my personal experiences of what has worked well for me in the past. I have solid-bedded the entire barreled action of a couple of guns, one being a Model 88 Win., and that gun shot great after it was finished, but also had the forend screw to deal with anyhow. The others have been a 721 Rem., and a 700 Rem., with less-than satisfactory results. I guess that's what makes differing opinions..
Yeah, I know. You aren't alone. Most people bed a rifle this way.
If you are going to free float a barrel then there is no reason to bed under the chamber other than you just want to. It really isn't going to do anything detrimental to a typical hunting rifle though. Most people aren't going to be able to shoot good enough to see any differences any way.
Now if you are going to full length bed the entire barrel channel that is another story. You full length bed to help eleminate as much of the barrel harmonics as possible and typically you do it on a pretty darn stable stock to begin with... such as a heavy laminated stock, McMillan, etc.... Typically you do not get as good of results full length bedding a sporter weight rifle in a typical sporter weight stock as you would if you free float the barrel because even with bedding compound in the barrel channel the stock isn't rigid enough to keep the stock from flexing.