have an old Savage 340 in .222. Not the same one but the first centerfire rifle I ever owned and reloaded for, so it's kinda...well you know. Anyway I'm going to refinish the stock and while taking the hardware off came to the barrel band. Finally to my question. Would it be a good idea to leave the barrel band off, eventually making it a free floated barrel? Like to hear your input. Thanks, Smoker
Posts: 215 | Location: NYS | Registered: 23 August 2003
Try bedding the barrel nut and recoil lug as shown below. Also bed the barrel at the barrel band as shown in the second photo. Experiment with the tightness of the band screw to improve accuracy. I was able to significantly improve the accuracy of my 340 by doing the above work --S40
Youth and vitality are wasted on the young.
Posts: 442 | Location: Way out west | Registered: 28 March 2001
quote: Would it be a good idea to leave the barrel band off, eventually making it a free floated barrel?
I would.
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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
South40...thanks...I forgot that little detail...in which case I'd be tempted to glass bed the barrel full length and free float the action.
And, yes, leave the barrel band on the barrel.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill
Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
A little trigger work will help as much as anything with the 340. They have notoriously bad triggers. My 30-30 will do sub MOA after load development. Rojelio
Posts: 495 | Location: South Texas | Registered: 13 November 2003
Wow, you guy's are great! Yes Rojelio, the trigger is terrible and I've been looking for a replacement but have not been successful. S40, you have saved me much experimenting. Thank you for such a detailed explanation. I have never used glass bedding, although most of my rifles have been done, ( gunsmith ), I would really like to try one myself. Would Brownells be a good place to get the kit, and are the instructions easy to understand? Already started the stock and am at the 220 grit level. Learned about using a heat gun and water to pull up dents.....OUTSTANDING!!! Smoker
Posts: 215 | Location: NYS | Registered: 23 August 2003
Search this site and you'll find many potential bedding compounds mentioned - as well as release agents. For your first bedding job, AcraGel is easy to use and comes with a release agent. You can get it from Brownells and MidwayUSA among others. S40
Youth and vitality are wasted on the young.
Posts: 442 | Location: Way out west | Registered: 28 March 2001
