Barrel drops open when you push the button

[Big Nasty]

Ok I've done a little more reading and I'm finding that when you release the barrel it should open with some resistance. My .308 survivor has the pallet wood stock and forend and everything seems tight as far as the BBL are concerned. But if you dont have ahold of the bbl when you hit the release button she drops fast and hard. My question here is the spacer the curved plastic peice that fits against the receiver. And if that is the spacer will it come of fairly easy to put a shim in it to snug up the forend a bit. I noticed were Quick had said he uses furnace tape I just want to make sure my terminology is correct before tinkering. I'm sure you all know by know that I have screwed up the terminology in earlier post about the shelf latch and I meant the release button. I'm glad you guys are hear.
 
thanks
Big Nasty

                                                                        THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU[/color]

[Manitobahunter]

From what I understand you want as little pressure on the spacer as possible.  Too much pressure and you can effect accuracy.  FAQ has alot of info and has helped me out quite abit.  I may be wrong about the spacer.  If I am, someone wiser than I will correct me.  I only have two handis and both will drop down if you push the release.



           Cliff

[Big Nasty]

Oh yea you definetly dont want it to stay in the locked position when you hit the button but I think when the button is pushed you want a slow drop almost like a hatchback lid or trunk when opened it slowly opens instead of a sudden drop but maybe this is acceptable I would think that it is a sign that things are wearing and could get worse. My guns my great grand kids will have fun with. I will never get the chance to wear them out I drive a truck for a living (local) and the rest of the time i'm on the sheriff dept reserves. Between the two jobs wife and kids and my mathews compound bow i'm busy. I still make time for my guns.

[quickdtoo]

If it's shooting good without the forend, it tells you that the forend shouldn't be too tight, mainly all it does is keep the barrel from being loose when the action is open. If it takes a lot of effort to pull the forend off, it's way too tight, for wood forends I like it just tight enough to stay on without the screw installed, then I add a fridge magnet to the forend (as described in the FAQs) and that's where I start, 9 times out of 10 it will shoot good doing nothing more other than torquing the screw to 25 in/lbs. 

Tim

[Sourdough]

When new all my Handi's stayed locked when the button was pushed.  After a few hundred rounds they all drop instantly when the button is pushed.  To my way of thinking that is a good thing.  It helps to reload faster.  They are not any loose when open.

[rickt300]

I am with the school of thought that says the barrel should drop with no resistance.  I don't want any pressure from the frame against the barrel.  I relieved the pressur the spacer was putting against the frame and suddenly 3 different loads with different bullets started shooting pretty much to the same point of aim.  If you don't want it to drop hard just point the rifle down when you push the button. Or do it two handed.

[cwlongshot]

 The exact tightness of the for-end is not an exacting science. But I agree, if a for-end is so tite that it inhibits the barrel from dropping open when the release is depressed, it is too tight.

 Tim gave a good analogy, when open, the for-end, merely keeps the barrel from falling off. Just tite enough so as it doesn't fall off the barrel with out the screw when closed.

CW