barrel not staying locked after firing

[jim36]

A quick trip to the range today. While I was there a friend of mine was shooting his 45 70. After each shot ,she would come out of battery. I brought his rifle to the house to take a look. After smoking the latch, I see that there is only about a quarter inch of lockup {horizontal} and about .90 vertical. The latch seems to be a little lower on the right side. If this is the case, how is the best way, if possible to build this right side to the same height as the left or in other words make it level for full lock up. I need your opinion before I do something to some ones rifle.  Thanks    Jim36

[Troyboy]

To much liability. I'd recommend sending it to a local smith or back to the factory. If it were mine i'd fix after reading the faq's

[stimpylu32]

Sounds to me like the latch shelf could use a little stone work to get the lock up consistent across the whole latch shelf , just take a fine honing stone to knock off some of the high spot , not try to build up the low area .

The latch is spring loaded so so by taking just a bit off the high spot you will get better latch shelf engagement .

Go easy and try it often to make sure you don't take too much .

stimpy 

[cwlongshot]

Sounds to me like the latch shelf could use a little stone work to get the lock up consistent across the whole latch shelf , just take a fine honing stone to knock off some of the high spot , not try to build up the low area .

The latch is spring loaded so so by taking just a bit off the high spot you will get better latch shelf engagement .

Go easy and try it often to make sure you don't take too much .

stimpy 

Exactly! 
 Also feeler gage check the barrel to the receiver. If this is loose, even a bit,  you can shim and reduce the engagement.

CW

[RWK]

Why! is this happening so much, someones quality control just not happening. Rich