lateral movement?

[sherppa]

My NEF has a great deal of lateral movement when the action is open.  It locks solid, but when the action is open there is a lot of side to side play.  Can this be fixed by shimming?   
 
thank you,
sherppa

[mechanic]

The first question is, does the rifle shoot well?  If it does don't fix it.  Second, does it have movement when closed?  If it locks well when the action is closed it should not be a problem.
 
Ben

[bucco921]

It means nothing when the barrel is open. As long as there is no movement when latched. It can be fixed with some aluminum tape between the forend and spacer.

[Doc Fillem]

I have a 1984 Handy Gun II 30-30/20 gauge combo. With the 20 gauge barrel on, there is no lateral movement, but with the 30-30 barrel there is a small amount and just like yours, it locks up tight. I tried shimming it with a BCS (beer can shim) just to see what would happen but then it wouldn't close all the way so the hinge pin isn't the problem. I believe it has to do with the sides of the barrel lug being slightly too narrow. Where it fits down into the reciever there is a small gap which is what causes the side-to-side wiggle. I measured the lugs of both barrels and the shotgun lug is slightly wider. So, any shims would have to be placed on the sides of the lug.
It shoots fine so I'm not going to mess with it.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

if there is "Lateral" movement when open, that could mean that it is locking up in a different location each time

that can't be good for accuracy

[sherppa]

Greeting,
Thank you for the quick responses, it shoots ok, have shot Federal red box thru it.  I have had other Handis that shot better, but this may be a matter of load development.  I guess if was most concerned from a safety stand point.  I actually bought to use with my "can" and is fun with suppressed loads but became concerned with full house factory stuff.
Happy New Year!
sherppa

[quatroclick]

I am working with a barrel that I fitted tight to the frame, but the lug was too narrow.  It shot poorly, and the firing pin strike on the primers were often off center.  I carefully welded small pads on the lug near the hinge pin end and cut them down until I had a tight lateral fit.  Groups dropped from just over an inch at 25 yards   to about 1 1/2" average at 100 yards.  I have more work to do with fitting the forend and load development, but this one issue made a huge difference in accuracy.