can a barrel get squeezed?

[deerhunter1981]

Hey guys!

I've got this paranoid thought in my head I need some input on. I was sealing up the wood on my brand new Marlin 1894SS rifle's forearm stock. In the process I had a hard time getting the forearm back on for some reason. I had to use a water pump tank to squeeze the forearm tip in place so that the screw holes in the tenon would align with the holes in the forearm tip. Now I am imagining that the barrel might have become 'squeezed'. I'm pretty sure I'm just kidding myself. For one, I reackon that the forearm tip would get bent or break before the barrel. Second, the rifle seems to shot like a charm. Third, is it even possible to squeeze, that is, inflict enough pressure on the barrel, for it to change its structural shape?

Does anyone have any input on this? Maybe you'll help me get rid of this enoying worry :-/

[deerhunter1981]

A water pump tang that is.... 

[Headache]

deerhunter1981,

You are not going to squeeze the barrel but you are putting alot of stress on the wood and it may end up splitting on you.  You probably should have removed some material before sealing to allow for reassembly.

Headache

[deerhunter1981]

Yeah, I'm having that fixed in a couple of weeks. But thanks for the input!

[mcwoodduck]

My guess is you added material that moved where the other metal objects attach.
did the same thing when I put 15 coats of varnish on a stock once and the forend irons would not line up.
till I sanded down the areas affected my the coats of varnish.
This is where tripple layers of masking tape are your friend.

[deerhunter1981]

I made sure not to apply too much coating on the parts of the wood touching metal (i.e. around the forearm tip). I'm pretty sure it had to do with how the parts were fitted originally. The reason is that when I took it apart I could feel that the screws kinda 'bounced' of the tenon, indicating that there was some unfortunate pressure involved.

[trotterlg]

You did not hurt any steel parts, chill out and have a nice evening.  Larry

[gunnut69]

The marlins using a foreend cap and a cross screw are always stressed. It is the way the factory tensions the forearm to avoid rattling and looseness. They almost always are a pain to replace. I usually remove a bit of wood next to the action to allow a beter fit, but avoid taking out too much and creating a loose forearm. This is just a fitting issue and not a concern. The barrel won't be damaged but may indeed be stressed. In some cases a bit of stress can make a barrel shoot smaller groups..