Making the forend stiffer forward of the recoil lug has no effect on accuracy.
If the stock flexes into the barrel from the simple act of laying it on rest, even pre recoil, it does in fact help accuracy a great deal.
This would seem counter to floating the barrel.
Making the forend stiffer forward of the recoil lug has no effect on accuracy.
If the stock flexes into the barrel from the simple act of laying it on rest, even pre recoil, it does in fact help accuracy a great deal. Base model savage rifles have notoriously flimsy stocks. Such that using a bipod, or even any rest far forward of the recoil lug, will cause the stock to flex enough to contact the barrel. Stiffening the forearm fixed the issue. I've done it on several rifles.