1/16th inch on the latch shelf is probably about right, and 1/8 inch may be to the end of the latch travel, each gun is a little different. If the release came up to where it is when the barrel is open it would mean you have run out of latch travel and it would be a bad thing. It usually takes a little while for the closing to become smooth, the machining on the breach both the barrel and the receiver is quite crude, so as it wears down the high spots things will get better. Larry