i have heard that many times, but then why are benchrest rifles, with very heavy barrels, typically bedded with the barrel completely free-floated? And the most accurate factory rifle I've ever owned was a Rem. 700 varmint-barreled .223 with only the back of the lug bedded.

There is a reason to bed the first couple inches of the barrel on a 98 Mauser, because the front action screw is in the middle of the lug. When the screw is tightened, the front of the action can bend if the barrel isn't supported. But most bolt actions have the front action screw behind the lug.

“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck