The reason most custom makers who produce extremely accurate rifles generally free-float their barrels is because, usually, a premium grade barrel will shoot MORE PREDICTABLY that way, and it is not as difficult to do this as it would be to individually bed each rifle by a trial and error method involving possibly extensive test-firing of each rifle. Makers don't want to wear out a barrel before shipping the gun!! Also, free-floated bedding is not subjected to changes when the stock wood swells or shrinks due to atmospheric moisture changes. Of course, this does not apply to non-wood stocks. However, even the finest barrels don't ALWAYS shoot best free-floated!!

Larry