In general do big bore rifles shoot better with the barrel bedded into the stock or with the barrel free floating ???

which would be prefurable on a 375 H&H Kimber Kaprivi??? This gun comes with the action bedded on pillars and the barrel sitting hard on the stock. I was wondering if it might shoot better if the barrel was free floated ???

Thanks for any imput you can offer

Gene

The only way you will know is relieve the barrel channel and give it a try. I prefer to float and glass. Three layers of electrical tape over the barrel when glassing the channel gives a good amount of float, yet stiffens and seals the channel. That said, on my .458 WM I bedded the barrel in full contact and have been rewarded with M.O.A. groups. You just never know!

Best of luck with it! George

What would be considered good accuracy for a big bore -- in particular my 375 H&H ??

Gene

My experience with the 375 H&H and 458 win is they are capable of 3 shot 1 inch groups at 100 yards in a good rifle. Some times better.

Dave

quote:

What would be considered good accuracy for a big bore -- in particular my 375 H&H ??

Gene

I have an old favorite, its a Cogswell & Harrison in .375 H&H, had it re-stocked recently and eventually cross-bolted and glassed it right from the receiver tang to the end of the barrel channel, underside of the bottom metal too. There's a conical barrel lug that I'd glassed in only halfway around the back leaving a clearence in the front. This is what she does at open sights at 55 yards with 04 factory RWS 300 grainers, the two shot group at 11o clock were two old Kynoch 235's shot with the claw-mount scope clamped back on. The shot in the center was pulled off by a friend who'd never shot anything bigger than a 22 rimfire! Needless to say he was pretty kicked!

Good accuracy in a .375 H&H is a .75 inch group or better. Many will actually shoot different bullet weights to the same point of impact with. Thats called inherent accuracy. I have two that will do that all day long.
As for bedding in my experience bedding the action and first 2 inches of the barrel, then free floating the rest has consistently provided me with the best accuracy independent of caliber. Its worked for .17 rems and .375"s. Above that caliber, you need a barrel mounted recoil lug and thats another story.-Rob