Is it important for accuracy in a bolt action for the forearm to be stiff if the barrel is free floated? It would seem that stock stiffness ahead of the chamber wouldn't matter much, but maybe it could contribute to consistency of movement in the action mounting area.

Specifically talking about Reminton 700 type rifles and hunting or light target or varmint rifles.

My opinion....I dont want any flexibility...anywhere, especially near the barrel.

Flexible forends feel funny. Forfend!

If the barrel is well and truly and generously floated, forend flex shouldn't make any difference. That said, wood stocks - flexible or not - can warp with humidity and temperature, depending on the type of wood and how the grain lies. That would only come into play if the gap between the wood and the barrel is narrow enough that some warping could bring them into contact.

Perused some youtube videos on stiffening forends, many fill the bottom of the forend on cheap moulded stocks. Seems adding some strips of fiberglass cloth to the epoxy would be good. Some add aluminum rods or carbon arrow shafts to assist stiffness. An interesting Midway video fixed a warped forend on a wood stocked rifle by milling a longitudinal slot, epoxying one end a rod, and driving a wedge between the other end of the rod, then filling all with epoxy.