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Posted: 2/27/2010 3:23:27 PM EDT
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As I dwell deeper and deeper into the posts of this forum it has come to my attention that some individuals believe that a Free Float Tube is better for a gun's accuracy than a standard handguard. I on the other hand (even though I may be investing in a FF) disagree. Has there been any type of PRACTICAL application or testing of this claim? While I understand there may be some THEORETICAL claims, I don't see what crazy amounts of stress a handguard could put on the barrel as opposed to the Free Float that would affect its accuracy.
Can someone please enlighten me? 
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Quoted:
As I dwell deeper and deeper into the posts of this forum it has come to my attention that some individuals believe that a Free Float Tube is better for a gun's accuracy than a standard handguard. I on the other hand (even though I may be investing in a FF) disagree. Has there been any type of PRACTICAL application or testing of this claim? While I understand there may be some THEORETICAL claimes, II don't see what crazy amounts of stress a handguard could put on the barrel as opposed to the Free Float that would affect its accuracy. Can someone please enlighten me?
Dont have the physical proof, but ive read many mag articles saying it changes barrel resonance which can in turn affect accuracy. |
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yes, it will matter... but it only 'REALLY' matters when we're looking at using a sling properly, or leaning against a barrier... I can change the POA/POI by ––inches–– at a 100m by leaning against my barrel instead of the rail... or locking down tight on the sling... so yes, there is practical merit to having a FF... but honestly, most people whom own AR's don't really do what I mentioned above, so in their eyes. a FF is wasted $$$... |
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With magnified optics, sure there are advantages as most people use a sling or bipod to steady their rifle.
Both of these can have a dramatic effect on your point of impact on a non floated barrel. To me, the biggest advantage is being able to run a longer railed forend over a low-profile gasblock. Carbine gas systems to me are just too damn short to be able to get any sort of grip on the rifle that is worth a damn, so I run free floats on all of my builds, even ones where bipods and extreme accuracy aren't a concern. |
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Never done a test with an AR to compare, however, I have compared on another rifle I had at one point.
Prior to floating the stock, while accuracy was good, any change in the pressure on the stock resulted in a POI shift. In the case of shooting off a bipod, that shift was greater than 3" @ 100 yards, and it was inconsistent from shot to shot, as I had to have exactly the same pressure on the bipod for each shot. Once I floated the stock, my POI stayed the same, and accuracy did improve by about 1/4" @ 100 yards with the same ammo. Didn't matter if I shot of a bipod or bags, the POI stayed the same. And it as more consistent from day to day, and with temperature variations as well. In addition, I once was helping a police officer sight in his carbine, as he was having a devil of a time getting it done. His groupings were all over the target, so it was very hard for him to make adjustments. As I watched him shoot, I noticed that he was resting his barrel on the bags, which meant that there was a varying amount of pressure on his barrel for each shot. As it was never the same, from shot to shot, his POI was also varying quite a bit. Once I got him to rest his free-float rail on the bags instead, his groups shrank, and he was actually able to get some sort of a zero for his rifle. Of course, he had multiple other issues, in that his rifle was crap, his scope was a POS, and he had virtually no ability at all. But at least he made progress. Any (inconsistent) pressure on a barrel will affect it's accuracy and consistency. It's not just about having it make the smallest group, it's also about keeping that group hitting in exactly the same point every time. |
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