Walnut swelling and floated barrels

[pmomd]

I'm told Walnut is quite prone to swelling with moisture and temperature etc.

I'm sure that's true to an extent, but if a rifle barrel is floated with plenty of clearance, e.g. 2mm or whatever obviously a Walnut stock isn't going to swell that much.

As long as there's plenty of clearance for the barrel, I guess the swelling thing doesn't matter at all?

[ailar]

I've never know it to swell anywhere near enough to touch the barrel like you're talking about.

Not even noticeably?

[Lyam]

If your stock is swelling 2mm it's not walnut. It's a sponge

[Grrzrr]

As long as there's plenty of clearance for the barrel, I guess the swelling thing doesn't matter at all?

Nope, nothing to worry about.

[Varmtr]

Walnut will swell ever so slightly but not the extent to touch a barrel that has 2mm clearance around it. As long as the walnut is coated in and out with tru-oil, polyurathane etc this will greatly reduce the chance of moisture getting into the timber. Timber will also move slightly with temperature which this can effect the action bedding hence why guys with timber stocks do pillar bedding and bedding which reduce's the effects of timber movement on the action.

[Vati]

Timber will also move slightly with temperature which this can effect the action bedding hence why guys with timber stocks do pillar bedding and bedding which reduce's the effects of timber movement on the action.

Yeah, the action is where you're more likely to run into issues.

Like Varmtr said, no chance of it swelling 2mm to touching the barrel.