forend doesn't fit right...

[rdlange]

took it apart, refinished stock and forend.  reassembled and the plastic piece on the forend is 3/32" offset to one side now, not flush with the metal action when screwed to the forend. didn't notice this when I took it apart. 

everything fits tight and I also noticed now that the forend seems canted where it meets the plastic piece, and does not line up sideways with the bevels on the rear of the forend when I put it together without the screws so the plastic lines up with the sides of the action. plastic is NOT canted against the action. forend seems to be a tight fit on the barrel screw lug.

barrel seems to fit tight in the action with no misalignment. reassembled several times, same thing.

any ideas?

[necchi]

Well ya don't want that hole in the forearm real tight on the barrel lug, I have taken a rattail file to some of mine to relieve the pressure. It should be loose or have just enough fit to hang there by it's self,,just a little.
If it's too tight, it will affect accuracy by placing pressure against the barrel and frame,,it can atually "push" the barrel when a round is fired.

[mechanic]

If I'm following you correctly, the spacer on the rear of the forestock that hinges  the action is offset from the wood.  If that is the case, and it was not that way before, you had to of missed the screw holes...Loosen the mounting screws and see if it will slide side to side at all....

[Spanky]

Drill out the screw holes in the forearm and fill them with short hardwood dowels.
Center up the spacer on the forearm and put the screws back in. It would probably be best to drill pilot holes first before you try to put the screws in.



Spanky

[PowPow]

An easy fix, similar to what Spanky says, is to jam the fattest part of toothpicks in the screw holes that will fit, then cut the extra off flush with a knife. screw hole is tapered, toothpick is tapered; nice fit.

[gcrank1]

The thing is that the forestock is locating off the barrel stud (which may be not totally squared up in the assembly) and the spacer/frame contact cannot torque back against that. By filling the holes and remounting the spacer you get that all trued up for that particular barrel. It may, or may not fit as well if you try to fit another barrel.

[wayne24]

I just bought a 308 handi from Dicks with camo plastic stocks  and the forearm was rubbing so hard that the action opened very hard.I took the forearm off and sanded where it hit the action until it opened like my other handis .I hope this will cure my accuracy issues.
Wayne 

[quickdtoo]

Forend fit is covered in the FAQs, that's one of the the first things I check on a new one, if a Handi will shoot best without a forend, reasoning tells me that the less pressure the forend puts on the barrel/frame, the better it will shoot, just Handi basics. 

Tim