Free floating trouble

[Kola16]

I tried to free float the barrels on two guns, a remington 788, and a marlin 917v in 17 hmr. I sanded them both down and put the wood stain on them. I put the stock back on everything else, and they both needed a little more so did the process all over again. The remington is good know, but the marlin still presses against the end of the stock pretty firmly. Should I leave it, or keep sanding 

[Hunterman]

If you started you may as well finish the job..

Hunterman(Tony)

[bobcat]

Next time don't stain the wood until you know you have it sanded down to where you want it.   

[Kola16]

It was fine until I put the screws in for some reason  But this would be my third time re-sanding and staining. I didn't know if I should sand it any more, but I guess I will get back to sanding  Not tonight 

[high country]

Has the rifle been bedded? If not, that is the place to start. Bed the action, wrap a few wraps of tape around the barrel to keep the front up and centered, bed the action and floor metal, and add pillars for the ultimate. Then you can be stress free and it will be a non issue. I would swing for .020 clearance on a walnut stock from the factory at the barrel.....they do not always use the best wood.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Has the rifle been bedded? If not, that is the place to start. Bed the action, wrap a few wraps of tape around the barrel to keep the front up and centered, bed the action and floor metal, and add pillars for the ultimate. Then you can be stress free and it will be a non issue. I would swing for .020 clearance on a walnut stock from the factory at the barrel.....they do not always use the best wood.

   Exactly what I was thinking.  Fix it so tightening the action screws doesn't suck the metal down into the wood.