Need advice on barrel fit

[Three Bears]

Have a new to me never shot 45LC barrel.  The barrel will close and have no movement but does not lock up... the barrel release has play. I smoked the latch area on end of barrel and it looks to be only hitting on the front edge. yes, I read the FAQ but must have missed this part so any advice is welcome.... 

[spikehorn]

I had the same problem with a 20ga barrel, all I ended up doing was taking a little out of the pivot point on the under lug until it started to lock up then I shot it and it popped open did that 2 or 3 more times until it stay closed when fired. go easy just a little at a time don't over do it.

[gcrank1]

Yes, but make sure you dont confuse the underlug at the pivot bolt with the latch shelf. Use the FAQs, understand the FAQs, before any metal removal.

[spikehorn]

Yes, but make sure you dont confuse the underlug at the pivot bolt with the latch shelf. Use the FAQs, understand the FAQs, before any metal removal.

+1 on that I read and reread them 3 or 4 times before I attemped it.

[guns-o-fun]

from what I understand - you may actually need to remove (only a little at a time - checking as you go) metal from the latch shelf with a fine stone, or actually I use 600 grit silicon carbide paper around a small flat piece of 1/8 inch aluminum bar.  I recently fitted a barrel with the same symptoms and that was the advice provided by Quick (Tim).  read the faqs - this is covered there.

[necchi]

. Use the FAQs, understand the FAQs, before any metal removal.

Ya, you better read that all again, I had to print it and read it several time before I went after my first one. Pay attention to the "feeler gauge" measurements. The part about a .001 sliding out with some resistance, and/or the aluminum foil.
 Could be it's too tight, and ya need ta remove some at the lug pivot,,,or
Could be shelf work,,ya gotta be sure to measure proper.
 I've had to do both to fit  barrels.

[Three Bears]

Thanks guys.... I am working on exterior of the house right now... wife seems to think Handi man work comes before Handi gun work..... foil barely slides out and I am hoping it is the shelf that needs trimming.  Everything else fits tight with no wobble.  I smoked the back of the latch and it rubs right up to the edge and no marks on top of the latch...

[gcrank1]

Others have done more than I, but if I may offer what worked for me:
Make sure you know the 'look and feel' of your good fitting barrel & action when it locks up, use it as your standard to judge the new one. Remove the ejector/extractor per the FAQs so it isnt throwing you off.
Seat a cartridge in and see if the base is a tad (only a few thou. is OK) below being flush.
When the new barrel is on that edge of latching, if you hold a light behind it, can you see a gap at the top and it isnt 'square' with the standing breech? If so, it isnt seating fully down and the latch cant lock. At this point you need to determine if you can remove some breech face surface by 'spotting and stoning' (if the case base was low in chamber) or it it was OK you work on the underlug pivot.
If it is seating can you get a feeler guage in top and sides to check all around for equal fit?
Once the barrel breech and the standing breech are fully seated and square the latch should engage the shelf better, if not enough, now would be the time to stone the shelf slowly to get the latch taper to engage a bit more.
* If I missed something in this brief summary someone else should be here shortly *