How much "wobble" is acceptable w/ Contenders?

[SCGunNut]

Last week I received my Fox Ridge "custom" 6.8mm SS carbine barrel that I waited 20 weeks for. Mounted it on my SS carbine frame (old style) and it has a fair amount of side to side wobble that I have not experienced with my other Fox Ridge carbine barrel or my 3 pistol barrels and another frame. How common is this and should I be concerned? As long as it doesn't affect reliability or accuracy I guess I can live with it but it's quite annoying. Have only shot it a few times so far and haven't had any misfires as of yet and with the scope being attached to the barrel, I can't see where accuracy should be grossly affected but I haven't run into this with my other barrels/frame. Thoughts? Thanx.

[Keith L]

I wouldn't put up with much if the action is closed.  When the action is open it really doesn't matter.  Once it is locked up it should be tight.  If it isn't call Fox Ridge.

[Anduril]

A call could be in order.
You shouldn't feel any slop between the barrel & frame with the action closed.
..

[skb2706]

One would think in 20 weeks they could probably hammer out a barrel with a bit tighter tolerances than that. I would mike it and see what you get. It should be right on .375"...if not send it back, tell them to take off the blindfolds, crawl out of the cave and build you a barrel...use power tools this time.

[AL_Deer_Slayer]

Skb2706-
Can you clarify where the .375" dimension is at? 
Thanks!

[Keith L]

Are you sure that it is a stainless frame?  If it is an unmodified Armor Alloy frame the pin will be smaller and any normal barrel will wobble.

[skb2706]

The pivot pin hole in your barrel should measure .375"...the hole in your frame should also measure .375". The pin should be a slight resistance fit thru the two of them. Personally I think tighter is better. If its an AA frame/barrel the hole will be slightly smaller (at least thats what the experts say) because of the plating.

[Ladobe]

... As long as it doesn't affect reliability or accuracy I guess I can live with it but it's quite annoying. Have only shot it a few times so far and haven't had any misfires as of yet and with the scope being attached to the barrel, I can't see where accuracy should be grossly affected but I haven't run into this with my other barrels/frame. Thoughts? Thanx.

Pretty hard to have consistency if the barrel doesn't squarely lock up exactly the same every time, and that most certainly does affect accuracy (and it could affect reliability).  Liveable on big game maybe, but not when the targets get small and the ranges get long.   Why anybody would live with it though I don't know.   Assuming there is nothing wrong with your frame... send it back, spend a few dollars more and buy a real custom barrel.   They are worth the price of addmission IMO.

[lamerabbit]

I would send it back, but I have more than one barrel that wobbles on my old frame.  I know I am going to catch hell for this, but I fixed the problem with an oversized hinge pin.  I actually bought it off of ebay....  Boy I can already hear it coming....   I use the old pin to change barrels, and then with the action open I drive the oversized pin in using the old pin as a guide.  When I say drive I use very light taps with a hammer and a block of wood. 

I get great accuracy and no more wobble, while it may not be the best way, I have won a couple of our local rimfire BR matches with this set up. 

Jim

PS Please foreward all hate mail to that "M" guy!

[blhof]

That's why they make those oversized pins and many people use them, including me, on one of my frames that had some wobble and I also got the Ebay pin 4 years ago and it's still as tight as my newest frame that was a new/old stock item.  The alternative is to send to T/C and wait, they would either replace the frame or weld in and re cut the holes to factory specs, but it could take a few months to 6 months.

[Keith L]

That's why they make those oversized pins and many people use them, including me, on one of my frames that had some wobble and I also got the Ebay pin 4 years ago and it's still as tight as my newest frame that was a new/old stock item.  The alternative is to send to T/C and wait, they would either replace the frame or weld in and re cut the holes to factory specs, but it could take a few months to 6 months.

Or it could be like one of mine and back in 10 days.

If there is much wobble an oversized pin that fits the frame with out breaking it won't fix the wobble.  One of two things has happened: the hole is wrong in the new barrel or perhaps the frame is not stainless but AA, a mistake that happens frequently.  It would be good to know before deciding what will fix the problem.

[SCGunNut]

First of all this is a stainless frame, not Armor Alloy. I know the difference. I did some experimenting today. I took the stainless carbine frame, the new stainless 6.8 barrel, my other blued carbine barrel in .25/35, my blued frame (pistol) and my 3 pistol barrels to work (gun store). I installed the .25/35 carbine barrel (which I've used on this frame for years) and each of my pistol barrels on the stainless rifle frame and had no wobble whatsover. I then installed the new stainless barrel in question on my blued pistol frame and guess what, no wobble. I then put the new barrel on a new G2 rifle frame that we have at the shop and it wobbled to the same degree as on my frame! So I'm at a loss as to what to do. The new barrel wobbled on 2 out of 3 frames; my stainless carbine frame and a brand new (not mine) G2 blued frame. But it locks up fine on my blued pistol frame. No other barrel wobbles on the stainless carbine frame that this new barrel is intended for. I also tried both pins in both frames with all barrels with no difference. I can't raise Hades with Fox Ridge unless it wobbles on ALL frames. I guess the obvious solution is to just use this barrel with the blued frame that it locks tight on but the whole purpose was to have a stainless barrel on a stainless frame. I guess I'll call Fox Ridge next week and explain what's going on and see what they say.
  I realize they've been making Contenders for eons and some variance must be accepted for as long as they've made them in so many variants but the "wobble" is hard to live with. If I send it back, who's to say they won't inspect it and find nothing wrong with it if it locks up properly on their test frames, which it very well could since it works fine on 1 out of 3 frames I tried it on today. I guess I could send the frame and all and have them examine everything involved. It may shoot fine but I haven't had time to take it to 100 yards to see. It's not like there's a 1/8" of wobble but its very obvious when you shoulder it or hold it by the stock and shake it. In the beginning I thought the stock was loose but it turned out to be the barrel. I'm more than willing to get an oversized pin if that's the solution but based on my experiment, it doesn't look like an undersized pin issue. I'll contact Fox Ridge and/or T/C and see what they say.

[Keith L]

They will ask for the frame and barrel, and will make things fit.  It seems to me it is more likely in the locking bolts than in the pin.  If you want to tinker try swapping the locking bolts with ones that do lock up in that frame and try it.

It is interesting that other barrels lock up on this frame, and the barrel in question locks up on other frames.  Please let us know what you find is the issue.

[lamerabbit]

I have an old style frame, that has been upgraded to the easy open, by T/C, had to send it back twice, because the first time they did not add the over travel screw..  Now, I just picked up and old 10” octagon  barrel in 22LR for it.  Guess what no wobble!  However both of my new G2 carbine barrels wobble, without the oversized hinge pin.  This is a blue frame.  Go figure!  It this point I might think that the G2 barrels hinge pins are larger, but are they?  Your guess is as good as mine.  The real problem seems to be the fact that they is only a very, very, very tiny bit of difference between the size of the hole in the barrel?  Or is it the lock up?

If anyone get a definitive answer please post it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim

[hunterspistol]

      Guys, having traded and bought all blue frames, I've noticed that the finish on the pin makes a difference. If your pin has a lot of steel showing, call TC for free replacements. The thickness of the finish does affect this.

[Keith L]

My blued frames have silver pins (steel color, not blue).  Are yours blued?  I would say noticeable wear on the pin could make it wobble.

[hunterspistol]

     All mine are blue, they have the same finish as the frames. If you recall what the original finish was, it's a thick black type of bluing.  I called TC for springs one time and happened to ask the lady how expensive hinge pins were.  Had an old 22 barrel that was loose, she sent me two new pins, free of charge.  They can fit so tight that it's hard to get them in.

[SCGunNut]

Here's an update on my original post. I emailed T/C and explained the situation. A lady replied and said she needed to send me a new new of locking lugs. I didn't see where that was the solution because it had the same amount of wobble with the barrel open or closed but I gave my address and waited, and waited. Two weeks went by and nothing arrived in the mail. My next email received no reply. So much for the stellar service T/C is known for. I then called and spoke to another lady who was very nice. She said locking lugs weren't the issue but didn't really have an answer. She said a new hinge pin may or may not help but sent me a new one anyway. I had already tried 2 other factory hinge pins with no improvement so wasn't surprised that the new one made no difference. She said I could send the frame and barrel to them and they would make it work but that the frame might not then be compatible with other barrels. Well that was not what I wanted to hear so I then did what I should have done in the first place. I ordered a Bellm oversized pin and am pleased to say that it now locks up like a bank vault. So, I wasted a lot of time when a simple $12 (incl. shipping) hinge pin solved the problem. Can't wait to finally take it to 100 yards and put it through its paces.