Hey Chuckindenver, very slight maybe Bubba...

...attempt to free float the barrel on my Remington M1917.

Hey Chuck,

Have an early Remington M1917 with original barrel and a very nice Winchester stock. When completely assembled there is about a thirty second of clearance around the barrel between the upper band and the wood at the muzzle. If you press the barrel up flush with the upper band then there is about a sixteenth of clearance between the bottom of the barrel and the stock tip.

How might this affect shooting, and most important, would shooting the rifle in this condition crack the stock or mess up the upper band? This rifle is a real keeper, all blued, no cracks or major issues with the stock. Real nice. Perfect bore.

I have some pieces of black walnut in the attic and could fix the tip of the stock without it being noticeable if you think that is advisable. Can't imagine an arsenal would send a rifle out with the stock tip like it is, maybe, don't know. Appreciate your input and anybody else's who knows more than me.

Death to bad guys,

Lancebear

before you shoot.
take the rifle apart, check the stock bushings, are they in good shape? tight? missing? you can help, by removing them, trimming 1/8 off, and putting them back in the stock,
dont shoot with them removed, likely you will destroy the stock.
if they are in good shape, tight ect, also check for a gap at the rear tang, should be a slight gap.
take it out, through some lead down range, check your guard screws, to make sure they dont work loose,
check your groups,
best groups iv ever got from a military dress 17 was 1 inch at 100 yards.
im sure some guys here, have done better, but i dont shoot 17,s all that much.
heck, havnt been to the range in a few months, i really need to go.
but i dont want to loose that costly ammo...

free float..03,s 17,s ect, were made to have 13 inch pounds of upward pressure at the end of the stock.
granted, i like a rifle thats floated, but it is tough to do with a bayonet lug hanging out in the breeze.
and amost 3 foot of tree branch under the barrel.

Hey Chuck,

Thanks for your advice. The rifle has been apart and detailed several times. I don't remember that the bushings protruded above the wood but I will check tonight and do as you say. Makes perfect sense that the rifle will be better off with the barreled receiver fully snugged up to the stock. Did your trick to a bushing on an '03 last night. Figure I will shave any protruding bushings on all of my rifles.

Hell, one inch group with any rifle and open sights at a hundred yards should be something that all riflemen set as a goal. Hope to get there this year. You will certainly hear about it if I can pull it off:). I'll be happy to get any hits in the black of an SR-1 target at a hundred with any of my rifles. Time will tell.

Death to paper targets and bad guys,

LB