Help on fiting barrel

[1NEFsofar]

I have a question that I can't seem to get the answer to. I am fitting a shotgun barrel to my frame and it's coming along well.  I am at that critical moment where I know if I screw up, it's back to the drawing board!!!! So I thought that I would ask the question to help myself and maybe someone else.  First let me tell you what I have done:

I have filed down the lug with the proper size drill bit with emory cloth wrapped around it and have gotten the barrel tight against the frame at the breech.

I have filled down the latch mechanisn ever so slightly and it locks up.

Here is the rub.....the mechanism that you push down and is used to unlatch the barrel (can't think of the name right now) does not come all of the way back up.  I don't know if I should file the latch catch down or or if there is not enough forward travel and it is bumping up against the frame and not allowing it to latch properly. SO......do I:

1)  File the latch
2)  smooth out more on the lug
3)  pull more of my hair out

Any suggestions would be appreciated...especially by someone who KNOWS the answer!

[trotterlg]

The release lever should only come about half to 3/4 of the way up.  The lever should have play at the top, if it is all the way up then the barrel is not properly fitted.  Larry

[1NEFsofar]

There is no play at the top.  It still seems "tight" like it's not fully engaged.

[quickdtoo]

Smoke the latch shelf and see how much engagement you have.

Tim

[cwlongshot]

Smoke the latch shelf and see how much engagement you have.

Tim

AGREED, Then adjust accordingly!!  One little piece of advice: GO SLOW!! Its FAR easier to remove more than it is too have to ADD some....  YES I DO KNOW...    
 
BTW, this is also all outlined in the FAQ's. 

CW

[1NEFsofar]

I plan on smoking the latch shelf and see how much engagment I have.  If it is less than desired do I only file the latch shelf?  Are you saying that the lug play has nothing to do with the latch engaging?

Yes, I know a lot is covered int the FAQ's.  I have read them.  But I did not see an answer to this specific question so that is why I asked.  Better to ask than to screw it up.

[quickdtoo]

Barrel fitting is covered very thoroughly in the barrel fitting for the novice including the answers to everything you've asked. 

Tim

[dieselten]

If as you describe - the thumb release lever is nearly topped out, then you are past needing to file on the shelf.  You have already removed too much.  Removing any more metal will only make things worse.  Any fraction of a thousandth of an inch you remove from the shelf will only allow the thumb lever to come up higher, which is bad in your situation.

This is all based on the fact that you said the thumb lever is at the top or nearly at the top.

A correctly fitted barrel should be as Larry said, the thumb lever should be about half to three quarters to the top.  There should be definite and clearly discernible play in the thumb lever during lock up.

[quickdtoo]

I was mistaken, the position of the barrel release isn't in the barrel fitting info unless it's in one of the links, but I just added it, sorry.  The fittnig info does show what to look for when you smoke the latch shelf to check for engagement, that's the important part. 

After the barrel is properly fitted, the barrel release lever(button) should rattle a little if you shake the rifle with the action closed, if it doesn't there's likely too much latch engagement, the release button should be mid travel when the barrel has proper latch engagement. When the action is open, you'll see that all of the latch travel is used up and the release button will be all the way up and it won't be loose enough to rattle when shaken.

Tim

[1NEFsofar]

Thanks that does help.  It looks as if I need to smoke the latch first and see how much engagement there is and remove more on the latch shelf if need be.

Thanks to all for the info.

Here's keeping my fingers crossed