Got a new (to me) 20 gauge barrel in trade. It closes but doesn't latch, closes without gap. I THINK (dangerous, I know) this means the pivot needs to be sanded down slightly, but before I go sanding away I wanted to ask others who've done it before.
Its hard to say for absolutely certain. But if you have no gaps then sanding or altering the pivot in any way will not be the correct coarse of action.
First off, as a rule, you should never alter the frame, only alter the barrel and its "lug". This holds true for 98% of barrel fitting in a handi. (Sometimes minor adjustments to the frame, are necessary. But you need to be knowledgeable of whats actually going on.) Start with the shelf on the barrel. SLOWLY, checking often remove material from the top of the shelf until you get it to begin to latch. Then mark the surface (Dykem, magic marker) to be sure your keeping everything square and true. Remove ONLY enough for adequate engagement. I like less than half.
This is all outlined in the FAQ's.
CW
