I bed the first couple of inchs in front of the action. this has work out well and all the rifles that I have bedded. Then free float the barrel after that.

Freefloated the whole length... Pad is unneccessary. Chamber heating/temp will alter pressure on it and change the vibrations and POI. That's my 2 cents on it.

Here's M70 Classic Compact stock I just skim bedded in Marine-Tex, lug and barrel taped.
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M7 sythetic skim bedded in JB-Weld, lug and barrel taped also.

Oscar: I don't know the answer either, but your logic makes perfect sense to me!

RobertD

When I have the rifle out of the action with the bolt in I find the balance point on the barrel usually just ahead of the receiver, sometimes farther up the barrel if it is a long or heavy barrel. I bed up to that balance point. That way the barrel and receiver will rest bedded in the stock and there is no lift pressure on the tang even without screws and is more stable. I think this may lessen barrel whipping vibrations better than a barrel heavy bedding job. Really don't know, but thats the way I do it. I seem to get my best accuracy that way.