I've owned 7 Remington 700's, some with synthetic stocks and some with wood. Every one of the wooden stocks benefitted greatly from free floating the barrel. They shot much tighter groups consistently.
The heavy barrel rifles with higher end stocks shot great right out of the box and needed nothing. These were free floated barrels from the factory. I owned 2 of these.
My last 700 was an SPS with the cheap plastic stock. When I first got it I saw groups of 3/4" to 1" with an occasional flyer. I quickly replaced the stock with a B&C Medalist. Groups became 1/2" or better. I new trigger cut it down even further.
What I'm saying is I have never seen a 700 that didn't shoot better with a floated barrel. Why Remington doesn't produce the 700 with a floated barrel is beyond me.
The heavy barrel rifles with higher end stocks shot great right out of the box and needed nothing. These were free floated barrels from the factory. I owned 2 of these.
My last 700 was an SPS with the cheap plastic stock. When I first got it I saw groups of 3/4" to 1" with an occasional flyer. I quickly replaced the stock with a B&C Medalist. Groups became 1/2" or better. I new trigger cut it down even further.
What I'm saying is I have never seen a 700 that didn't shoot better with a floated barrel. Why Remington doesn't produce the 700 with a floated barrel is beyond me.