Should Marlin MR-7 be free floated all the way back to lug?

p5200 · July 21, 2012, 04:55 PM

I removed the stock and noticed the lug seems to be factory bedded and also, a thin bit of material behind the lug. I was able to slide a dollar bill back just so far but, not all the way back to the lug. Is this part of the design or should I remove enough material to float it all the way to the lug? I don't want to remove something that's there for accuracy been there done that before

. I haven't even shot this thing yet so I thought I'd better ask first if anyone is even familiar with this model. I really like the build and feel of this gun I hope I can get at least moa with handloads it likes. I sure appreciate any and all info I can get. Thanks!

p5200 · July 22, 2012, 05:42 AM

Pretty rare I know,

I've had no luck on any forum yet, I hope I run into someone who knows if it should be floated all the way back to the lug or not otherwise, I will be safe and just shoot it first as is.

jmr40 · July 22, 2012, 06:21 PM

There is no right or wrong answer. Shoot it and see what happens. Is this factory, or done by someone after purchase? I handled a few of the MR-7's back in the day, but have never taken the stock off one.

Most rifles come unbedded. There are 2 schools of thought on bedding. Most bed the recoil lug area and the first 1-2" of barrel and then free float the rest. Some bed the entire barrel all the way to the end of the stock. Some guns shoot better with just a little bedding at the action and then a little upward pressure at the tip of the stock. The last option seems to only work with pencil thin barrels. Many, maybe most shoot just fine with no bedding at all.

I'm guessing that it came unbedded and someone bedded the action,and first couple of inches of barrel and left the rest free floated. This is the most common way. If it shoots well don't worry about it.

p5200 · July 22, 2012, 09:59 PM

I bought it used from the gun shop everything looks factory done inside the stock. All the bluing looks almost like new the stock has lots of small scratches but has a nice black walnut grain pattern. If it turns out to be a shooter, I may refinish the stock I for sure, have to do something with the thin hard rubber pad though!

Thanks!

I'm going to just shoot it first, and see how it shoots as is.

30Cal · July 23, 2012, 09:51 PM

shoot it first

Scorch · July 23, 2012, 09:57 PM

Quote:

I haven't even shot this thing yet

If you haven't shot it yet, why are you messing with it? Shoot it first. If it needs floated, do it, but only if it needs it.

July 21, 2012, 04:55 PM	#1
p5200 Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 205	Should Marlin MR-7 be free floated all the way back to lug? I removed the stock and noticed the lug seems to be factory bedded and also, a thin bit of material behind the lug. I was able to slide a dollar bill back just so far but, not all the way back to the lug. Is this part of the design or should I remove enough material to float it all the way to the lug? I don't want to remove something that's there for accuracy been there done that before . I haven't even shot this thing yet so I thought I'd better ask first if anyone is even familiar with this model. I really like the build and feel of this gun I hope I can get at least moa with handloads it likes. I sure appreciate any and all info I can get. Thanks!

July 22, 2012, 05:42 AM	#2
p5200 Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 205	Pretty rare I know, I've had no luck on any forum yet, I hope I run into someone who knows if it should be floated all the way back to the lug or not otherwise, I will be safe and just shoot it first as is.

July 22, 2012, 06:21 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,491	There is no right or wrong answer. Shoot it and see what happens. Is this factory, or done by someone after purchase? I handled a few of the MR-7's back in the day, but have never taken the stock off one. Most rifles come unbedded. There are 2 schools of thought on bedding. Most bed the recoil lug area and the first 1-2" of barrel and then free float the rest. Some bed the entire barrel all the way to the end of the stock. Some guns shoot better with just a little bedding at the action and then a little upward pressure at the tip of the stock. The last option seems to only work with pencil thin barrels. Many, maybe most shoot just fine with no bedding at all. I'm guessing that it came unbedded and someone bedded the action,and first couple of inches of barrel and left the rest free floated. This is the most common way. If it shoots well don't worry about it.

July 22, 2012, 09:59 PM	#4
p5200 Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 205	I bought it used from the gun shop everything looks factory done inside the stock. All the bluing looks almost like new the stock has lots of small scratches but has a nice black walnut grain pattern. If it turns out to be a shooter, I may refinish the stock I for sure, have to do something with the thin hard rubber pad though! Thanks! I'm going to just shoot it first, and see how it shoots as is.

July 23, 2012, 09:51 PM	#5
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,093	shoot it first