Tang and Barrel Gap

[MSG]

I have a GPR kit, and have had considerable trouble getting the tang to line up properly with the barrel, (proir to inletting the barrel would not fit at all like it should). After further measuring, and inletting, I now have a somewhat straight Tang, BUT now I have a small gap between the barrel and tang. The barrel locks into the tang , as well as locks with the wedge pins. I see, and feel NO movement in the whole system, but the small gap still bothers me, as for SAFETY Reasons. Is it still safe to shoot? And can I use some type of metal filler to fill the gap. I have built several KIT guns before, but not had this problem. Thanks for your help and input!!

 

[Shelby Skinner]

Not sure if you mean that there is a gap between the breach of the barrel and the front of the tang (where the breech hooks into the tang) or if you mean there is a gap between the back of the tang and the stock. In either case I doubt that its truely unsafe. But for lots of reasons there

Bottom line...it ain't right. And good enough doesn't really count here...

 

[Mad Professor]

Is the tang really flush to the breech plug? I have run into fittings where the tang/barrel mismatched in the wood so that the metal pieces were just canted a bit when put into the stock. E.g. mix n/match TC/Investarms products.....

Try this, take out the tang/barrel and see if they mate flush out of the stock. If so, do some inletting/bedding. If not see why the metal pieces don't mate and file here and there then recheck when in the wood. Hope this helps....

 

[smokehouseman]

I had a the same kind of problem with my GPR, but upon careful examination I found a very slight burr on the tang. Double check to be sure you don't have something like that. I also had to bed the tang to make it fit properly. Good luck!

 

[wtilenw]

You can super glue the tang to the barrel and bed as one unit. Release the two after bedding with heat from a propane torch. I will have to do the same thing with a stock I am working on right now.
Idaho PRB

 

[MSG]

Skinner,
The GAP, is between the breach face (Tang-Hook area) and the face of the tang. Again, every thing is tight when completely assembled. Could I use a "Filler", such as JB Weld, to fill the gap, and still be safe?

Thanks for help

 

[Goldhunter]

hmm. If I understand, with everything installed, the barrel and tang line up right, barrel locks in with wedges, but there's still a slight gap between the breach plug hook and the tang. Someone else said to check it outside the stock to see if it locks up solid and flush. Did you do this?

To me that sounds like the breach plug hook is hitting the wood at the back of the barrel channel(behind the tang) Maybe check this and see if relieving the wood there the amount of the gap allows the barrel to fully slide back flush. The hook and the BP might be a little long and even though it locks up and lines up there is still a bit of play that allows it to slide forward? I don't know, might be worth a shot.

Also check to see if the under rib on the barrel is clearing the nose cap or is it hitting it, again preventing the barrel from lining up flush.

My .02. Hope that helps.

 

[Old40Rod]

Is the tang perpendicular to the barrel channel and parallel to the hook side of the breech? Sometimes its difficult to get those to line up perfectly, it may require inletting, filing or bending the tang a bit. Back off, take a nice long look at what is going on, you will find out the problem. You might even use a bit of inletting color on the hook to see where it is hanging up.

The rearward outside breech face should be flush up against tang when the hook is mated, at least as flush as you can reasonably get it. In addition to a safety issue, I suppose, your accuracy will likely suffer if the barrel is not solidly butted against the tang.

IMHO, JB weld isn't going to cut it... if the gap is uniform, and you absolutely can't figure any other way, I would recommend cutting out a thin piece of sheet steel stock (or brass) and making an octagonal spacer. You'll need to cut a hole in the middle for the hook. But I would first make every attempt to get everything to line up correctly without a spacer.

:winking:

 

[MSG]

GoldHunter and Old40Rod,

I put it all together and stepped back, as suggested, Looking at it, it looks like the Tang's original inletting is a bit crooked. After checking the barrel, and all its areas, and tweeking some small areas, that were, or possibly could have been causing some alignment issues (High areas) the barrel is as far as I can see just about as good as it will get (Right now anyways). Next thing I noticed is the tang alignment is pretty bad, so back to the drawing board, and it looks as though I will have to Re-Cut a bit of the wood and re-drill the mount screw, and possibly bend the end of the tang as suggested. So, I will let you all know how it comes out. If by chance, there is still a small gap between the Tang and Barrel Breech, when finished, I guess I will have to do as suggested by Old40Rod, and make a steel, or brass spacer.

Thanks Again for the help and suggestions by all of you fine Americans.

Will send pics, when complete.

 

[Old40Rod]

I bet you can get it close enough that you don't need to put anything in spacerwise... I would get it butted up so you have tang/breech contact as close as you can and then take it out and shoot it. If it hits where you point, don't worry about it too much. One of my friends restocked a pistol and had a similar problem with a bit of a gap down one side of the tang. He shoots circles around me. He clipped off a bit of an old credit card and shoved it in... :haha: Not quite PC but again, it shoots just fine.

If the breech doesn't come back far enough you may have problems getting the hammer to hit the nipple, so that is another check.



:winking: