got this rifle and this $1 bill

[Jack]

A lot of rifles come from the factory with some wood to barrel contact at the forend tip- deliberately. And, a lot of light barrels perform better that way, too.
Ruger and Remington both have turned out rifles with the forend tip contacting the barrel. Probably others, too.
Your rifle barrel may like some up pressure at the forend tip, or it may prefer to be free floated.
Anyone who says free floating ALWAYS gives better accuracy hasn't tuned enough rifles yet.
More than once I've free floated a barrel and ended up putting pressure at the forend tip back in- the rifle shot better with contact.