1972 model 70 .25-06

jeepman · November 19, 2011, 06:03 PM

Like the title says. i own a .25-06 model 70 and according to the serial number. it's equipped with the original walnut stock. the problem i am having is the barrel is contacting the stock. my question is, was this year model designed to with contact points(barrel stock) or was it free floated? would appreciate any input from you experts.. thanks

oneoldsap · November 20, 2011, 09:23 AM

I have a .243 of the same vintage as your 06 , it had a contact pad at the forend tip . Had is the key word here , I removed the pad , and did some other judisious sanding . My group size was reduced by 50% . If you remove the contact pad and your rifle doesn't shoot better or maybe shoots worse , you can always put it back with a little epoxy . Oh and welcome to TFL , lots of brains to pick here , some even have content !

jeepman · November 20, 2011, 11:05 AM

After examining the stock closely, the slightly raised contact point on my stock starts about 5" back from the end of the fore end.my barrel is contacting the stock at the end of the fore end lol.sorry if this sounds confusing.

PawPaw · November 20, 2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

After examining the stock closely, the slightly raised contact point on my stock starts about 5" back from the end of the fore end.my barrel is contacting the stock at the end of the fore end lol.sorry if this sounds confusing.

That sounds about right. Some rifles shoot very well with a contact patch, some benefit from free-floating. How will you know which is best for your rifle? You won't know until you free float it.

If the rifle meets your criteria in unmodified form, then don't modify it. If it doesn''t shoot the way you want it to shoot, then float the barrel and see what difference that makes. Either way, it's your rifle.

jeepman · November 20, 2011, 02:13 PM

I will take a photo of the problem, so everyone can actually see it. i want to leave it as is, the problem is,it's contacting near the end of the fore end and leaving black marks.this is not good.

jeepman · November 20, 2011, 03:07 PM

If you look closely,the screw driver is pointed at the pressure point built into the stock from the factory.forward to the end of the stock, you can see where the barrel is contacting it.from the screw driver rearward to the lug area, there is no contact between barrel and stock.

oneoldsap · November 20, 2011, 03:51 PM

I have a .243 of the same vintage and it wasn't free floated . It is now though . Just floating the barrel cut my group size in half . They are a good stiff barrel and will usually benefit from floating . At least that has been my experience .

jeepman · November 20, 2011, 04:14 PM

I really would like to just repair the existing problem and not free float the barrel.i will probably end up selling the rifle in the future.

oneoldsap · November 21, 2011, 07:43 AM

You're not making any sense ! If you don't want to float it , then you don't have a problem .

jeepman · November 21, 2011, 09:17 PM

I have had another model 70 just like this one and never had the barrel rub and leave bluing marks on the stock. look closely, there is one in the center and left side of stock near the end of the fore end.all i am looking to do is fix the current problem. i never said i wanted to float the barrel lol.

nate45 · November 21, 2011, 09:47 PM

If you want to relieve the contact points the easiest way is whats been suggested. Float the barrel.

You won't be hurting anything, its just sanding the channel.

Search it online, I'm fairly certain you can find complete instructions.

Its really simple though, just work slowly and take it down till you can run a dollar bill freely between the barrel and stock.

Jerry45 · November 22, 2011, 01:16 AM

All you need to do is get a wooden doll and some medium to fine sandpaper. Rap the sand paper around the doll and sand the channel a little. Put the action back in, tighten it down and see if a dollar biller will slide “snugly” between the barrel and the stock. Repeat until the bill slides between the two. Take it slow, if you take out too much wood you’ve taken out too much. Won’t really hurt anything but might not look good. It’s pretty simple just takes a little time and patience. As the others have said, this IS called free-floating the barrel. If it’s not free-floated it WILL make contact and leaave black marks.

PawPaw · November 22, 2011, 07:19 AM

Good photo! The contact patch is easy to see. If you look toward the forend of the stock, you'll see another black mark where the barrel is touching the stock.

Quote:

I really would like to just repair the existing problem and not free float the barrel.

That doesn't make any sense. You can't "repair" the problem without floating the barrel. For that matter, we don't know if it is a problem, how does the rifle shoot? Some rifles need a contact patch for best accuracy, others don't need that patch, and you won't know until you shoot the rifle. Either way, it won't make any difference in the eventual sales price. A '72 model 25-06 is probably a push-feed and those don't normally command a premium price.

Either float the barrel or don't. That's up to you. If the contact patch is a problem the only way to cure the problem is to sand it out of there. And, it's a very easy fix. Now that you have the action out of the stock, you've done 90% of the work. Ten minutes with a dowel and a piece of sandpaper and that contact patch will be gone. Put a sealer on the sanded wood, let it dry and re-install the stock.

November 19, 2011, 06:03 PM	#1
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	1972 model 70 .25-06 Like the title says. i own a .25-06 model 70 and according to the serial number. it's equipped with the original walnut stock. the problem i am having is the barrel is contacting the stock. my question is, was this year model designed to with contact points(barrel stock) or was it free floated? would appreciate any input from you experts.. thanks

November 21, 2011, 09:47 PM	#11
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	If you want to relieve the contact points the easiest way is whats been suggested. Float the barrel. You won't be hurting anything, its just sanding the channel. Search it online, I'm fairly certain you can find complete instructions. Its really simple though, just work slowly and take it down till you can run a dollar bill freely between the barrel and stock. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

November 22, 2011, 01:16 AM	#12
Jerry45 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2000 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 890	All you need to do is get a wooden doll and some medium to fine sandpaper. Rap the sand paper around the doll and sand the channel a little. Put the action back in, tighten it down and see if a dollar biller will slide “snugly” between the barrel and the stock. Repeat until the bill slides between the two. Take it slow, if you take out too much wood you’ve taken out too much. Won’t really hurt anything but might not look good. It’s pretty simple just takes a little time and patience. As the others have said, this IS called free-floating the barrel. If it’s not free-floated it WILL make contact and leaave black marks. __________________ Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!

November 20, 2011, 09:23 AM	#2
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	I have a .243 of the same vintage as your 06 , it had a contact pad at the forend tip . Had is the key word here , I removed the pad , and did some other judisious sanding . My group size was reduced by 50% . If you remove the contact pad and your rifle doesn't shoot better or maybe shoots worse , you can always put it back with a little epoxy . Oh and welcome to TFL , lots of brains to pick here , some even have content !

November 20, 2011, 11:05 AM	#3
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	After examining the stock closely, the slightly raised contact point on my stock starts about 5" back from the end of the fore end.my barrel is contacting the stock at the end of the fore end lol.sorry if this sounds confusing.

November 20, 2011, 02:13 PM	#5
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	I will take a photo of the problem, so everyone can actually see it. i want to leave it as is, the problem is,it's contacting near the end of the fore end and leaving black marks.this is not good.

November 20, 2011, 03:07 PM	#6
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	If you look closely,the screw driver is pointed at the pressure point built into the stock from the factory.forward to the end of the stock, you can see where the barrel is contacting it.from the screw driver rearward to the lug area, there is no contact between barrel and stock.

November 20, 2011, 03:51 PM	#7
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	I have a .243 of the same vintage and it wasn't free floated . It is now though . Just floating the barrel cut my group size in half . They are a good stiff barrel and will usually benefit from floating . At least that has been my experience .

November 20, 2011, 04:14 PM	#8
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	I really would like to just repair the existing problem and not free float the barrel.i will probably end up selling the rifle in the future.

November 21, 2011, 07:43 AM	#9
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	You're not making any sense ! If you don't want to float it , then you don't have a problem .

November 21, 2011, 09:17 PM	#10
jeepman Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2011 Posts: 6	I have had another model 70 just like this one and never had the barrel rub and leave bluing marks on the stock. look closely, there is one in the center and left side of stock near the end of the fore end.all i am looking to do is fix the current problem. i never said i wanted to float the barrel lol.