On my 91/30, where the barrel sits in between the upper and lower hand guard it's loose, like ringing a bell. Well maybe not that bad, but I've also noticed after numerous shots fired the upper hand guard starts to slide toward the muzzle. What's the best way to fill in or shim to create a tighter fit.
But are the bands tight? I had a set that expanded too much.
The bands seem as tight as they need to be. If I squeeze the top and bottom hand guards together as hard as I can by hand, the barrel with still rattle around between them. There is no gap between the top and bottom. About 1/8" total play. I think the wood has worn against the barrel. I've read about corking the barrel. Could this fix my problem?
Now is it the barrel moving around, or the handguard. I'm confused. Most people are happy if the barrel is not touching wood. It's call free floating. Now if the barrel is actually moving, that would be a real bad thing.
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Now is it the barrel moving around, or the handguard. I'm confused. Most people are happy if the barrel is not touching wood. It's call free floating. Now if the barrel is actually moving, that would be a real bad thing.
All I know is that there is space between the top and bottom. Maybe I shouldn't be worried if free floating is desired. I thought it may be related to the upper hand guard sliding ahead when I shoot it. Probably nothing to worry about.
The barrel shouldn't be moving in the least, if the action screws are loose it can move a small amount which we all know isn't a good thing. I've had my hand guard move a little after 20-30 rounds but it's from recoil. It shifts forward just a bit but enough to notice the top of the barrel bands have shifted forward as the hand guard tries to remain where it is when the rest of the rifle is moving violently to the rear. I have the spring type bands and they aren't stretch out any so it's more like a "feature" of a old rifle
All I know is that there is space between the top and bottom. Maybe I shouldn't be worried if free floating is desired. I thought it may be related to the upper hand guard sliding ahead when I shoot it. Probably nothing to worry about.
Handguard sliding could just be a bad band retainer spring. (If that's what you call it)
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People think I'm paranoid because I own guns. If I own guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?
May go with out saying, but....when in doubt it would not hurt to have a gunsmith have a look. Ya can't put a price on peace of mind.
If it IS the barrel moving around then it could be loose in the action which could cause catastrophic things to happen when fired. But with out looking at the rifle I could not tell you for sure.
Gunsmith's can tell with one glance.
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It is likely due to the handguard being old and dried out. You can try a aluminum can to cut a shim(s) out of and place it between the handguard and the band to hold the handguard in place. If the movement is bothering you, you could first cork the barrel channel and see if that cures it.
__________________ I keep tellin ya Doc, I'm in pretty good shape considerin the shape I'm in !!
It is likely due to the handguard being old and dried out. You can try a aluminum can to cut a shim(s) out of and place it between the handguard and the band to hold the handguard in place. If the movement is bothering you, you could first cork the barrel channel and see if that cures it.
Thanks! I'll try the aluminum shims first. After all the reading I've come to the conclusion that some has likely floated the barrel. It makes sense to me to shim it on the muzzle end of the stock.
How does it shoot otherwise? Decent groups, or all over the place? T'ain't no thang to take the action out of the stock and see if the barrel's tight in the receiver.
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I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in!
Handguard sliding could just be a bad band retainer spring. (If that's what you call it)
No, ganny, it's called a "barrel band spring." I have one MN that has barrel bands which have the joints in the bottom of the band tight, but the bands still don't lock down as tightly as they should over the handguard. I may have to replace them.