[jon lynn]

Hammerforged, is just the method used to produce the barrel it's self. But when it comes to free floating, it doesn't matter if the barrel was twinkie forged.

The true guru's here will give you textbook (read as perfect) answers, I will give you the kinda right idea until they respond to this post.

Free floating, means the barrel does not touch the barrel channel in the stock. Although some will have the first inch or so touch, I had a Remington 700 varminter, I had that free floated from the recoil lug to the muzzle.

Some barrels have a pressure point at the end. Which means the barrel is free floated from the recoil lug, until the end of the barrel sits on the stock.

The reason for this, as it was explained to me years ago, think of your barrel as a tuning fork. To get the even harmonics, the vibration should travel down your barrel evenly, with no obstructions to absorb the vibrations. So shot after shot, the barrel reacts the (almost) exact way every time.

98% of all barrels work better free floated. But I had an old hunting buddy who had a Ruger 77, the barrel was snug in the stock, all the way down, but his 7 x 55 shot MOA all the seasons he used it. And one fella had a Mauser that needed a bit of pressure at the end of his barrel.

Hope this kinda helped, but when the others read this, I am sure they will do a better job of explaining it to you.............Jon