Barrels for Handi guns

[grumps]

Is it really necessary to send your receiver back to NEF to have a barrel fitted to it or will any barrel fit without smithing it to fit.  I'd like to get some other cal barrels for mine but don't want to go thru a bunch of rigamarole to do it.  I'm sure I'd be better off to get the whole gun but sometimes a barrel is too much of a bargain to pass up that is if it will work ok.

[LaOtto222]

There has been much written about this subject. Do a search for barrel fit or look in the FAQ section on fitting barrels. Some times a used barrel will fit right up, some times it does not. You take a chance when you get a used barrel. Some of the guys have several frames and they just keep trying different ones until they find one that fits. Some times someone has messed around so much with them you will not get them to fit at all. See lacth fit by Larry; he had to build up the lug on a barrel and then mill it back down so it would fit. I just send my frames in to get fitted, then I know I have a factory fresh barrel that no one has hacked up, but that is just me. I think I am in the minority + from a recent poll, most guys have complete guns and do not mess with changing out barrels. I presently have two SB 2 frames with 3 factory fitted barrels for each. They cover the gammet from small pests, to varmits, to preditors to moose or bear. I think I need more however. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[petemi]

I've got 11 H&R rifles and shotguns.  All but 4 were put together from stocks, frames and barrels from everywhere.  One needed shimming, and one needed the latch shelf touched up.  Both 5 minute jobs.  The shim job was just a slice of beer can on the pivot.  It sounds kinda slovenly, but it works.  That's on a .357 tack driver.  If the shim gets a little shakey, I just get another brew out of the fridge.  AtlLaw here on the forum is an expert on this.  If you read the FAQs as previously suggested, there are more permanent remedies to a loose pivot, but none offer more fun.

I don't fool around with spare barrels.  I believe every time you take it down and change barrels, you're messing with accuracy.  All mine are complete rifles.  I would not have a problem changeing barrels on shotguns as long as they were not sighted slug guns.

Grumps, welcome and good luck!

Pete

[OBXPilgrim]

If the shim gets a little shakey, I just get another brew out of the fridge.  AtlLaw here on the forum is an expert on this. 

Pete

Expert on getting the brews out of the fridge or replacing the shim...or bother.

[AtlLaw]

Geeeze Pete!     How soon people forget!  And after all the hours I spent measureing thicknesses of dozens of brands of domestic and imported raw shim material!     For what!     And that's not even mentioning the crushed whisky bottle glass shim experiment!   

Oh well Pilgrim... this shims for you!