Free floating Barrel

I think you might find it depends on the particular model.
Some examples of why I believe theres no real answer:

The Mrod kinda has a free float barrel. The band doesnt hold it but the shroud butts against the receiver and holds the barrel at the muzzle end. Some people have had better results with anchoring the shroud with the barrel band making it a non floated system while some have better accuracy leaving the band as is and unscrewing the shroud so its not tight against the receiver giving it a more free float type of hold.

My S510 shoots very accurately with the barrel band installed. The barrel band fits tight to the shroud so its not a floated barrel at all. When I removed the barrel band it shot like a shotgun.

I owned 3 AT44 hatsans for awhile. All three shot best with the barrel bands removed and a free floated barrel.

All 3 of my BSA rifles which are a R10 MK2, Scorpion SE and a S10 MK2 all have free floated barrels and are all very accurate.

If you read some old posts on the forums you will see other people having the same types of experiences. Based on my experience and others I have read theres no solid yes or no for free float or non free float. Try both on your rifles and see what happens.

If you have a Gauntlet, the point of aim will move with not much more than a bump of the barrel. For a free floater to be accurate, it must be secured solidly at its base.and that can be a tall order for some guns.

@LDP I think they resolved that issue with the Mrod 2nd gen. Mine came with an oring between the schroud and end cap, which I believe was a common fix from the first gen

I have left my Mrod "free floating" and havnt had any accuracy issues since, although I havnt bumped it around in the field YET.
I think it depends on the gun and its intended purpose For example I would always use a barrel band on a 22xx with the steel breach, because it has one grub screw holding the barrel in place, if it had more and or larger grub screws then maybe.

Scrufhunter the gen 1 also had the o-ring for the end cap. I was talking about the end of the shroud that butts against the receiver. Some marauders dont like the shroud tightened against the receiver instead some like the shroud backed off about 1/8 of a turn from tight against the receiver. Either way we both seem to have had similar experiences as many others have had.