Loose barrel to frame fit.

[Mopar512]

My first post here and I must say it seems to be full of interesting information about Contenders. I have shot Contenders for about 15 years and have a collection of several of the old style and a couple of G2s.


I have a 256 Winchester octagon barrel that fits loose on any of my Contenders I try to put it on. When locked up I can detect wiggle between the barrel and frame. It will vertically string shots about 1.5 inches at 25 yards and I believe the looseness is the cause of the shot stringing. It seems I need a specially made locking bolt to correct this problem. Several years ago I contacted Thompson tech support about this and if my memory is correct they said they had special locking bolts to correct this problem. However they would not send me one and told me I had to send in the barrel. I hate any shipping of stuff around so I just set the barrel aside and forgot about.


After finding this forum I bet someone here knows where to get special locking lugs or know of a solution to my problem. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Roger

[Richard P]

Is the .256 your only barrel ?   Is there someone's barrel you could try on your frame and see if the problem reproduces ? Conversely, you could try your barrel on another frame.  I assume the grip is tight to the frame, correct ?

[Mopar512]

I forgot to mention that I have at least 15 contender barrels and this is the only one that has a loose fit issue. Also, it has this fit issue on all my frames, including a new G2.


Roger





 

[sr sawyer]

You did not specify if the locking bolt was the old solid or the newer spit bolt.  If the barrel is used and has the solid bolt I would think it could have been honed to fit another action and thus cause  vertical play on your action(s).
 
My first attempt, if it is a solid bolt, would be to call TC and ask for the newer split bolt.  At one time they would furnish split bolts at no charge (and no barrel return was necessary) but this may have changed with all the other changes that have taken place.
 
Also you can take the bolts from an existing barrel and try them on the 256.  I have changed the bolts on barrels where one worked and one did not and after the swap they both worked fine.
 
Ken

[Flash]

The locking lugs are part of the equaision with the hinge pin being the other. Check the fit of the pin on the barrel by itself. If the barrel saw heavy use, it could be shot loose. The pressure of the 256 can be up there with bottled neck rifle cartridges so the frame it lived on could be long ago ruined, but the barrel could have suffered as well.
 If you're thinking it's the locking lugs, go to Walmart and buy some bright orange acrylic craft paint. Brush a thin layer on the lugs, let it dry and reassemble the gun. The wiggle will put wear marks on the paint if the lugs are the problem. The paint is easily cleaned off any bare metal surface with WD40 and an old tooth brush.
Chances are if T/C wanted you to send them the barrel, they wanted to check the hinge pin hole as well.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.256_Winchester_Magnum

[jbj-displays]

You can replace the locking lug springs with stiffer ones.
Also you can get a touch larger pin.
Search oversized hinge pin on the internet.

[scratcherky]

I would not ruin a frame that fits numerous other barrels fine by installing an oversize hinge pin. Most people know that installation of an oversize pin pretty much makes it a one barrel gun. It also destroys the resale value of the frame. Oversize pin = snake oil.