float tube

[ericf]

Will a float tube installed on a RR carbine (16") have enough improvement in accuracy to justify the cost?
I've had two retailers advise me that there wasn't enough benefit to these short barreled rifles and to skip the add on.
I don't really think they know from where they speak, so I thought I'd ask.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: float tube

IMO, no, it doesn't if all you are going to be doing is just blasting.

Now if it's a precision setup, then yeah, I would eliminate all the factors that I could.

 

[81Z4ME]

Re: float tube

I like a free float tube because I either use a sling or a rest. I attach my sling to the tube (not the barrel) and I rest it on the tube if using a rest instead of the sling. Just having a handguard allows any difference/inconsistency in pull/weight/pressure to deflect the barrel.

Also, the tube costs more but it you get a railed tube it gives you a good place to attach the front sling, a bipod if you use one or the tactical stuff many folks put on ARs these days.

 

[echo3]

Re: float tube

It will not <span style="font-style: italic">increase</span> accuracy, it will <span style="font-style: italic">decrease</span> the amount of shift in point of impact do to varying tension applied to it.

On my M4 with a RAS non floated rail, a vertical foregrip and a VTAC sling. I can shift POI up to 4 inches in any direction at 100 by twisting, turning, pressing and generally climbing around on it in all the funky positions I find myself training. That is up to 8 inch dispersion in POI at 100. Identical rifle with a float tube my POA POI do not move as I do my best spider monkey impression. My twisting the rifle and leaning on it do not transfer to the barrel. No there is nothing wrong with the non floated Colt, it shoots beautifully, but I can flex the barrel enough to throw rounds way out if you dig.