Free floating Barrel K98k

[Flolito]

Hi

Im new here so i wanted to introduce myself: My name is Florian and i am 22years old. I live in a small village in carinthia austria. I shoot rimfire rifles my pistols and collect WWII rifles particularly K98k.

So now i have the idea of an new project. I refinished a K98k and rebarreled it. It´s now chambered in .308. All the Parts ar here and only the scope plus scopemount has to be mounted. But now i have a question is it a good idea to free float a barrel on a K98 to improve accuracy. And sorry for the mistakes in my posts i hope that i not only improof the accuracy of my rifles with the knowledge here but also my english basics

mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Österreich Flolito

 

[sharac]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

Go to Bedding...

This is how they used to do it and i suggest thats how you do it...

I have done mine the same way as in the link and have a Swaro (4x32) on it and it can shoot below 2MOA...

 

[N2DADARK]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

Never herd of it, you would have to get a new stock setup if you did, that front barrel clamp is used to hold the barrel and the stock together, part of the reason the rifle is so accurate. I have always been under the impression that you can free float the barrel or you can fully bed the barrel. The most important thing is you want the same thing to happen the same way every time you fire. If the barrel is free floated harmonics take their effect, if its fully bedded then they are different and transmitted through the stock but its repeated every time, no change of contact between the barrel and stock. My opinion would keep the stock you have now fully bed the action the barrel heck even the top hand guard and the barrel clamp, it will be difficult but doable. You want nice even contact the whole length of the stock. You will keep your nice stock and save some cash. Just my opinion.

 

[Flolito]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

First thanks for the fast answers

I have 2 Stocks for that rifle..... guess i will simply try it. Free float the "ugly" one and if it works i will do it on the refinished stock. I only wanted to know if someone has tryed to do this

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

on my 8x57js K98k tests,bedding have worked, and free floating only don't have worked_anyway,I think it's IMPORTANT relieve ANY point of contact between the barrel and bayonet lug(bajonetthalterung)/front ring(oberring), and relieve any eventual point of pressure caused from the removable front wood handguard_please,find a spare front spring(ringhaltefedern),heat it, remove any heat treatment from it,and replace it : this way this "spring" will work without bind sideway the front ring against the barrel_I advise against modify and/or destroy any vintage K98k working part,and employ for test&butchering only spare parts coming from after WW2 production from east europe countries_
Being from Venice,Italy,I need apologize for my very poor English_
anyway enjoy and...feuer frei!

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

freefloating the barrel, with or without bedding, allowing the barrel to swing and clang (like a bell) against the front ring/bayonet lug when shoot,in my opinion is the worst thing for the (8x57js)K98k _ anyway I have tested only 8x57[.323sierra match HPBT 200grs./norma case/CCI br lr/vihtavuori160 or normaMRP worked well, for me]

 

[Flolito]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

Thanks verry much for the suggestions. I will try that with the bedding

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Free floating Barrel K98k

Flolito,

First, get that thing back into 8x57Js! It'll do a lot more than the .308 ever will. And since it's the original caliber for that barrel, it BELONGS there. {...although I would understand if it's a national caliber restriction thing...}

Second, as most noted, you can't free-float that barrel and not have it hit something. Most of the Mauser 98's I've seen that shot well had the stocks all chopped (away from the barrel) to completely free-float the barrel. Next best option is to bed the barrel and action so there is no chance of moving throughout the firing sequence. Unfortunately, what this does is magnify a molecular defect in the steel. That is, if there is one. Most all of these rifles were made of very excellent steel and didn't have glitches most of the time.
If you hadn't seen it by now, the real "bedding" that k98k's had, was the steel crosspiece mounted in the stock just behind the integral recoil lug. This accounted for most of the accuracy not already attributed to the quality barrels they made back then. I kid you not, the barrels back then, from there, were very, very good.

Another thing to do, if you can, is load the cartridge down a little if you handload. You'll find a number of better handloads that what is out there on the market.

-good luck