FREE-FLOATING BARREL MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR FIREARM

A barrel mounting system for a firearm includes a longitudinal axis, a receiver, and a barrel detachably coupled to the receiver by upper and lower barrel mounting features above and below the barrel bore centerline. The lower mounting feature may comprise a clamping block compressing a lower breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. In one embodiment, a pair of lower securement fasteners extend through the clamping block and threadably engage the receiver to draw the block into engagement with the receiver. The upper mounting feature may comprise a securement fastener compressing an upper breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. The upper and lower mounting features form a triangular bolting pattern and balance moment forces created by the compressive forces of coupling the barrel to receiver with the fasteners.