I have a 257wby vangard and I have a question on the stock. Do they shoot better with front pressure on the barrel the way it comes from the factory or I'm I better off opening up the barrel channel. It shoots ok but nothing great. 1 1/2 to 2 1/2. Thanks

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Do they shoot better with front pressure on the barrel the way it comes from the factory or I'm I better off opening up the barrel channel. It shoots ok but nothing great. 1 1/2 to 2 1/2.

I've never owned a rifle that I couldn't get to shoot better with a free floated barrel.

I had a Ruger tang safety in 30/06. I free floated it and the groups went to hell. But as a general rule free floating will help. If your groups go south you can allways ad material to the tip of the forearm to create more contact.

I have seen removing the bumps cause problems in soft stocks.

Here is a trick you can try. Take a plastic tab bread bag tie and cut it to fit evenly under the recoil lug of your rifle. Snug your action screws, not over tight. This should lift your barrel off the bumps enough to have a free float effect. Fire a few groups to see what happens.

405wcf

I had a Vanguard in a plastic stock a couple years ago and it had a terrible stock fit. I removed stock in the barrel channel for hours!!!

I glassed the so-called recoil lug and yes, it shot much better.

Thanks Guys, I'll give shot on opening it up and beading.

Or do think its worth getting a Houge rubber stock to replace the factory? If so does the full length justify the extra money over the pillar stock?

I would play with the bedding in the stock you have long before I bought a new stock for it unless you just can't stand the existing stock. Who knows you may get it to shoot so well by floating and bedding it that you'll be glad you didn't spend the money on a new stock.
If you bed it right and it still doesn't shoot a new stock won't fix your trouble.