accuracy question..

[ICEMAN]

I have heard alot about this in the past.

Has anyone actually measured how far off a gun did fire at 100yards from a soaked stock? I know we have argued this around my campfire, usually somones excuse for missing game..... 

So, anyone ever measure or can quantify what is being discussed. I cant imagine a gun being off by very much....  How much has been observed?

[luvtohnt]

I just don't see how a piece of dry wood that is sealed with stain can absorb moisture. I coulde see a little shrinkage on synthetics in extreme cold but not anything we experience here in WA.

Brandon

[Huntbear]

The easiest way to explain this, is to use an analogy.  Ever have a wood deck?  Sealed with whatever?  Did any of the decking warp?  Humidity and moisture will warp a stock, over time.  You keep it in a moisture controlled environment all year long (to keep the metal from rusting) then you take your weapon out in a wet, humid environment, that wood is going to absorb some moisture, no matter what.  How much it absorbs may be minimal, however, in extreme cases, it will warp the wood.  Mainly the free float is what is important.  The glass bedding in the barrel channel is just waterproofing for the wood (for those that can not seem to remember to clean and dry out the firearms).  The bedding is mainly for the action, and recoil lug area.

[JoshT]

I just don't see how a piece of dry wood that is sealed with stain can absorb moisture. I coulde see a little shrinkage on synthetics in extreme cold but not anything we experience here in WA.

I've been hastling my mule-headed father in law to put a synthetic stock on his old Rem. 700 for the past 10 years. He won't... because he likes the way the wood one looks. Well, last year he hunted that rifle hard for blacktails... he had it out in the rain and fog on the last day of the late season. I went over to their house right after he got home and the rifle was leaning in the corner on the porch. I picked that thing up and it must have weighed 10 pounds... this is a 8.5 pound rifle when it comes out of the safe. Don't know if it effected the accuracy at all... but I know an extra 1.5 pounds of water (about 1/4 GALLON) ain't ever a good thing. I just put the new stock on it last weekend!

[dbllunger]

I'll mess with all of you know.  How many knew that Remington believes a contact point on sporter weight barrels helps them shoot better.  Remingtons with sporter weight come with a forwards contact point.  Just to mess with the whole process a little.  I have also had a couple rifles that settled their groups with fore end pressure.

[deaddog]

Ya folks seem to think that free floating is the answer to getting better accuracy but it can cause problems, some barrles need pressure on the barrel to shoot right.