Free-floating barrel mounting system for firearm

A free-floating barrel mounting system for a firearm comprising:

• a longitudinal axis;
• a receiver defining a front face and a forward extension projecting axially from the front face;
• a barrel comprising a front muzzle end, a rear breech end, and an internal bore defining a bore centerline and extending axially between the ends to define a projectile passageway;
• the breech end of the barrel being cylindrical and received in an unthreaded barrel mounting hole in the front face of the receiver;
• an external shoulder formed between the breech end and a portion of the barrel forward of the breech end, the shoulder defining an annular rear face abuttingly engaged with the front face of the receiver;
• a clamping block arranged below the bore centerline and engaged with the forward extension of the receiver;
• a pair of spaced apart lower securement fasteners extending axially through the clamping block and threadably engaging the forward extension of the receiver;
• an upper securement fastener arranged above and vertically aligned with the bore centerline and threadably engaging an axial bore in the front face of the receiver, the upper securement fastener being symmetrically centered in lateral position between the lower securement fasteners;
• a portion of the upper securement fastener abuttingly engaging a forward facing upper bearing surface formed on a top center of the barrel;
• wherein tightening the upper securement fastener compresses the annular rear face of the barrel against the front face of the receiver;
• wherein moment forces created by tightening the lower securement fasteners are balanced by the upper securement fastener.

A method for coupling a barrel to a receiver of a firearm, the method comprising:

• axially aligning the barrel with the receiver;
• slideably inserting a rear breech end of the barrel into a corresponding barrel mounting hole in a front end of the receiver;
• abuttingly engaging a rear face of the barrel with a front face of the receiver;
• engaging a lower forward portion of the receiver with a clamping block below a bore centerline of the barrel;
• inserting a pair of lower securement fastener through the clamping block;
• threadably engaging the pair of lower securement fasteners with the receiver;
• tightening the lower securement fasteners to draw and clamp a bottom portion of the barrel against the front face of the receiver;
• threadably engaging an upper securement fastener with the receiver vertically aligned above the bore centerline of the barrel to trap a forward facing upper bearing surface formed on a top center of the barrel between an enlarged head of the upper securement fastener and the receiver;
• and
• tightening the upper securement fastener to draw a top portion of the barrel against the front face of the receiver;
• wherein moment forces created by tightening the lower securement fasteners is balanced by the upper securement fastener.