Wedge Pins for Lyman Great Plains Rifle

[Grayson Palmer]

I have my wedge pins fitted best I can in my GPR. The fit varies based on heat/humidity/cold significantly. Can range from "just right" to "falls out".
Found this image online (below). This is a Lyman GPR wedge where someone ground a slot in the wedge.
1 - Has anyone else done this?
2 - Does anyone MAKE these that fit a GPR?

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I have my wedge pins fitted best I can in my GPR. The fit varies based on heat/humidity/cold significantly. Can range from "just right" to "falls out".

Found this image online (below). This is a Lyman GPR wedge where someone ground a slot in the wedge.
1 - Has anyone else done this?
2 - Does anyone MAKE these that fit a GPR?

GP,
1. The slot shown in your photo is a typical....... keep the key on the stock method.
With all due respect, if they are just right, they will not fall out. Wedges need to be snug so there is a little effort to remove. Remember you also have to compensate for recoil. I think your keys are too loose. I have made 3 rifles, and 1 shotgun with wedges. I also have my 1970s vintage TC with a wedge. None of these guns have the keeper slot in the keys.

Good luck
Flintlocklar

 

[Grayson Palmer]

GP,
1. The slot shown in your photo is a typical....... keep the key on the stock method.
With all due respect, if they are just right, they will not fall out. Wedges need to be snug so there is a little effort to remove. Remember you also have to compensate for recoil. I think your keys are too loose. I have made 3 rifles, and 1 shotgun with wedges. I also have my 1970s vintage TC with a wedge. None of these guns have the keeper slot in the keys.

Good luck
Flintlocklar

I appreciate the advice. It just seems difficult to get the fit "right". I'm going to try slightly bending the wedge keys. As they came, they're both very slightly bent already. You kind of have to lay them on a straight edge to tell but definitely not exactly straight. I put them in with the belly down so as to make the fit tighter. And always the longer one in the rear. Sometimes I can get them both in with very hard thumb pressure. Sometimes have to tap them in. Sometimes one falls all the way in with no resistance. I'll do a slight bend first and see if I can make it more consistent.

Still though, I'd like the added assurance of the retaining pin even if I get to where they always seem to fit very snugly and need tapping in with a wood mallet.

Thanks again!

 

[user 34300]

I see Track had a suitable wedge. Key-CVA-I . It is a hair oversized and will require fitting.

 

[Grimord]

It really is not hard to make your own "capture keys". A dremel tool with a cutting wheel can make the slot. Some cut finish nails for the pins that go under the escutcheon is all you need. I had a friend that took a spill at one of the biathlons held last winter and he lost one of the keys on his great plains rifle. His shooting for the rest of the course was off because the barrel was not hled down consistently.

 

[MAC1967]

As I recall . . . .I own a GPR . . . the manual recommends bending the barrel slot, by tapping it with a hammer rather than bending the Key . . . maybe someone else can weigh in on whether I am correct or not. Bending your key may cause a problem with it lining up on the other side.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I agree with Mac1967, bend the lug. Captured keys are easy to make and to my mind a nice detail that is useful.

 

[deermanok]

A simple method I've used for loose fitting wedge is to simply wrap a bit of scotch tape around it. Tighten it right up and will last a year or so.

 

[gunnyr]

I have my wedge pins fitted best I can in my GPR. The fit varies based on heat/humidity/cold significantly. Can range from "just right" to "falls out".
Found this image online (below). This is a Lyman GPR wedge where someone ground a slot in the wedge.
1 - Has anyone else done this?
2 - Does anyone MAKE these that fit a GPR?

View attachment 31052

I have my wedge pins fitted best I can in my GPR. The fit varies based on heat/humidity/cold significantly. Can range from "just right" to "falls out".
Found this image online (below). This is a Lyman GPR wedge where someone ground a slot in the wedge.
1 - Has anyone else done this?
2 - Does anyone MAKE these that fit a GPR?

View attachment 31052

Grayson, I've had the same problem with my GPR as well. I placed a round bar on the barrel lug and very carefully
Tapped a slight curvature to the lug , go slow and lightly. May take a few times to get it right.
Good luck and burn some powder.
GUNNYR

 

[Cowboy]

As I recall . . . .I own a GPR . . . the manual recommends bending the barrel slot, by tapping it with a hammer rather than bending the Key . . . maybe someone else can weigh in on whether I am correct or not. Bending your key may cause a problem with it lining up on the other side.

No! Don’t bend the lug my friend. The GPR lugs are electro spot welded. No dove tail.

The owners manual says to do that, but the lug can be broken off the barrel. I know because I did that. Broke off the rear lug. Apparently wasn’t spot welded up to standard?

Anyway, contacted Lyman customer service and whole barrel was replaced. Before someone asks “ No I didn’t go hog wild on the lug “.

Lastly, some advice that makes sense my friend. If you have to modify a part to coincide with another part. Always modify the least expensive part.

Slight bend in the key should suffice. Also the rear key is slightly longer than the front key on these GPR’s.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[Grayson Palmer]

Thanks everyone. I agree, the lug bending may wind up being the solution, or part of the solution. But I am going to try bending the key first. I already ordered a spare key. I figure I can bend the original back. Or use the new one if needed. If it doesn't work, and I have read in several comments that it will and that it won't, then I still have more options. Breaking the lug...boy...I know I can get someone to put it back or send it back to Lyman or whatever. But I don't want to go down that road if there's an easier way.

And yes I'm working on grinding a slot in the original rear wedge.

I'm a NEWBIE. So I'm probably afraid of things that shouldn't be a problem once things are fit properly. PART OF THE FUN IS WORKING THROUGH IT.

Finally a SINCE THANK YOU guys. I appreciate your advice.

 

[Walkingeagle]

Fyi, I too had issues with the Lyman keys in both my GPR and GPH. Easy fix. I bought TC replacement keys from TOTW. They fit a bit long, which does not bother me, but they are now tight!
Walk

 

[longcruise]

I had a gpr lug shoot loose. IOW, it broke off during a shooting session and was discovered when it was taken down for cleaning. Best to just fiddle with the key itself. Put a tiny belly in it and try it. If it won't go, flip it over and try. If its too loose, make the belly a bit deeper. Tiny taps with a the ball end of a ball peen hammer with the key laying on a flat surface.

 

[Grayson Palmer]

Fyi, I too had issues with the Lyman keys in both my GPR and GPH. Easy fix. I bought TC replacement keys from TOTW. They fit a bit long, which does not bother me, but they are now tight!
Walk

Walk, is this what you got from TOTW? Wedge key, blued steel, for Thompson Center rifles. Also replaces Investarm Hawken, Cabela's Hawken, Sharon Hawken wedge keys. - Track of the Wolf

 

[Walkingeagle]

Walk, is this what you got from TOTW? Wedge key, blued steel, for Thompson Center rifles. Also replaces Investarm Hawken, Cabela's Hawken, Sharon Hawken wedge keys. - Track of the Wolf

Yes sir. I buy the iron ones though as they always Seem sold out of the blued.
Walk

 

[Walkingeagle]

Walk, is this what you got from TOTW? Wedge key, blued steel, for Thompson Center rifles. Also replaces Investarm Hawken, Cabela's Hawken, Sharon Hawken wedge keys. - Track of the Wolf

This one (if I did it right)....
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/964/4/KEY-USA-I

 

[Grayson Palmer]

This one (if I did it right)....
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/964/4/KEY-USA-I

Thanks!

 

[pliverca]

GP,
1. The slot shown in your photo is a typical....... keep the key on the stock method.
With all due respect, if they are just right, they will not fall out. Wedges need to be snug so there is a little effort to remove. Remember you also have to compensate for recoil. I think your keys are too loose. I have made 3 rifles, and 1 shotgun with wedges. I also have my 1970s vintage TC with a wedge. None of these guns have the keeper slot in the keys.

Good luck
Flintlocklar

Just remember that one of the wedges with that rifle is a bit longer then the other, they are to go into one wedge hole only. When you dont use the right wedge hole either it will fall out or go in hard. I had a nice conversation with Lyman's tech on that problem and he sent me two wedges and told me where to use each one. Pistol Pete

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

I’m coming to this thread late, but have had the same issues. I tried bending the pins but that only sort of helped, and further exasperated the need to be 100% sure that the “front” pin goes in the front, and in my case, it has to go in right side up, if that makes sense. Ultimately my better solution is what Gunny suggested-and per the Lyman instruction booklet, slightly bending the barrel light as described in the manual.
I also carry extra pins now too!!

 

[Grayson Palmer]

Yes...I have the slightly longer pin in the rear slot, and the slightly shorter one in front. And turned so that their very slight belly (I haven't bent them yet but they do have a slight belly) is downward.
Thanks again everyone!