A friend (and beginer shooter) just brought over a Howa synthetic that wasn't shooting good for him. I'm not sure where it came from but lots of stuff was loose like the screws by the trigger guard and most the scope mounting hardware.

ANYHOW...I was looking at the stock to barrel fit and I'm having a hard time trying to figure out if they are trying to free float this gun or not. There are gaps here and there but yet the molding gets real close to the barrel at times. Then, at the tip of the forearm the barrel is definately riding on the stock petty hard. Absolutely no way you are going to get to try the "dollar bill test". Maybe they want some upward pressure there for some reason.

Anybody ever play with one of these Howa's? I guess for now I'll give it a good copper cleaning.....tighten up all the screws....and do a little shooting. After that if it isn't doing good do you think we should get the barrel fully floated??

Typical factory fit. You might as well cut it away from the remainder of the barrel, and by more than a dollar bills thickness at that. Unless the contact and pressure on the barrel is uniform, then you are better off floating it first. You can always go back in and add pressure at a later date.