Yes the barrel is "almost" free floated, but the stock touches on the barrel in several places. Now that I know how a 17 HMR is supposed to shoot, I am not pleased with the accuracy. The Marlin will out shoot it easily. Free floating the barrel and ligtening the trigger pull will help. The screws that hold the action in the stock have very then shallow slots and not one of my screwdrivers will fit them well enough to break them loose. They are super tight. I will give my old gunsmith buddy a call today. He is a silhouette shooter and knows how to do all the tricks to a CZ to make it a tack driver.