Barrels acting badly

[P.A. Myers]

I recently got a 223 10inch bull barrel. I assembled it at home and it opened fine several times. Out in the woods it fired and opened several times, then would not open. I took it home and drove out the pin [came out easy] and opened it. Now it works again. Other barrels do not do this. Maybe I should try it on my other frame? This is a solid lug barrel that does not appear worn.

Next, A few times I have had the extractor fail to withdraw when closing. I mess with it and it will close. This tends to happen with newer barrels. How can that be? the extractor is a pretty simple device.

Note: Both my frames are G1s[early] in original configuration.

[Curtis]

Hmm, I don't remember reading about nor have I experienced any problem with solid locking bolt barrels on early frames.  Most of my frames are fairly early (1978 to 1980) and my three or four solid lug barrels have never given me any problem.  Even that being the case I'd bet that if you switched that solid lug out to a split lug it will never refuse to open again.  Trying other fixes may just end in frustration since it doesn't do it every time.

On the extractor, you are right that it is pretty straightforward in operation.  Maybe there's some trash in there that a normal cleaning won't get out.  I'd take it out and clean everything up then put her back together and see if that helps.

Curtis

[ourway77]

If you have solid locking lugs on your barrel You may want to change over to split locking lugs. I had that problem with a G-1 frame after doing this it went away. Thompson in the past would send you split rings free for a phone call. Lou

[BCB]

Good-luck with the 'phone calls!

I called 4 (four!) times and finally got a set of locking lugs and it was done reluctantly...

Each time I was promised they had been shipped...

I am sure many will jump in and say they have had nothing but good to say about T/C service...

And so it goes...

Good-luck...BCB

[P.A. Myers]

Ford never made a 'tin lizzy' either. G1 is easier than a serial number.

[Keith L]

OK boys, knock it off.  Keep it to discussing the weapons, and no shots at each other.  I removed one useless post, and will remove any others and lock this thread if you can't play nice.

[Curtis]

P.A. just courious but were the two problems related?  What did you do to fix it?

Curtis

[BCB]

P.A.,

I’m curious also.  I recently purchased a 22LR Match barrel and it was a mess to get it to work on 3 frames.  I finally got it to work on one (1).  I am still peeved about that.  They are to be interchangeable with all frames (Contender) according to T/C, but that is not true…

I did get different locking lugs from T/C but it took almost an act of Congress.  There are lugs with roller pins and lugs with tips as part of the lug.  Junk in my opinion…

Sorry, got off on a rant.  I am done with T/C as it is too much of a challenge to get the barrels to work on all frames—but the ads say they will.  And if not for the ease of changing barrels, T/C would not have lasted but a few years…

Again, any info on how you many have solved the problems?  These problems are more prevalent than most T/C owners will admit.  One hates to admit he/she purchased a “bad” product.  I didn’t purchase a barrel to have to do “gunsmith” work on to get it to work.  I don’t see anywhere on the container that holds the 22 barrel where it says, “Some gunsmithing knowledge may be required”. (Sorry, got off on a rant again!)...

Good-luck…BCB

[Keith L]

I have never had a barrel that I had to do "gunsmith" work to get to fit.  I have had to do minor polishing.  It is hard to expect that all barrels will fit all frames without fitting.  I guess if you don't want to do the necessary fitting then TC is not for you.  Many of us like to tinker with our guns, and this is tinkering in my opinion.  To each their own.

[BCB]

Keith L,

Didn’t come here to start a fight.  Facts are facts…

And by admitting that “Many of us like to tinker with our guns”, this is allowing T/C to use very minimal quality control as acceptable.  Unfortunately we see that in many companies anymore…

Nope, there is no place on the new package that states the warning, “Some tinkering may be required”…

Many shooters who purchase these “interchangeable” barrels get a rude awakening…

I’ve been shooting them for years, and the recent productions seem to be the problems…

I have two (2) other frames that WILL NOT accept the NEW 22LR Match barrel.  I wanted to put it on a frame that has VERY GOOD trigger work by a VERY GOOD ‘smith.  That money was wasted if I am wishing to use it with the 22LR barrel.  Works really well with an older Super 14” barrel in 223 and a 16” barrel also for the same cartridge.  All older stuff…

Nope, no more T/C new stuff for me.  Maybe T/C should purchase their company back?...

By the way, I never had a Ruger handgun,. and I have 5 of them, that I had to “tinker” with to get it to perform…

Only Opinions, but they are based on facts…

Good-luck…BCB

[P.A. Myers]

Dear Curtis,

I shot it Wednesday, and everything worked fine. The extractor was a little stiff but functioned [closed] OK. All I
did was switch frames. One s/n is 39k and the other is 177k. They should be pretty much identical. I'll switch
it back and see what happens.

That 10 inch gets a tremendous muzzel blast, but very little recoil. More accurate than I am. What fun!

Thanks to all for your kind help.

[BCB]

P.A. Myers,

Glad you got ‘er to function and shoot.  You are lucky, as I am, to have another frame to “snap” the barrel to.  Many shooters may only have 1 frame…

The 22LR that I previously mentioned never would work on 2 of the frames I have.  It did work on the 3rd one, luckily.  T/C said to send it back along with the frame and they would fit it for me!!!  Yea, right I’m gonna do that and have them change the beautiful trigger job I had done, with one of their factory triggers.  Plus, if I remember correctly, it cost money to send something to them!!!  Got to insure it and it may have to go “over night” delivery via, UPS—don’t know that.  Regardless, it would be at my expense…

When I first put it on one of the frames and closed it, I couldn’t get it to open again.  I had to remove the trigger assembly and force the locking bolts to move with a screwdriver.  It is an awkward task as the barrel, when loosened, wants to fall to the floor—crazy little thing called gravity!  Those types of falls are pretty dang hard on $350 ‘scopes.  Having the ‘scope in place even makes it harder to maneuver and get the barrel off of the frame.  I got the Mrs. to hold the barrel while I made the effort to unlock the bolts…

I guess the best thing to do, if possible, is to purchase used barrels at a location where you can take the frame you wish to use, and try the barrel on it.  But that certainly isn’t possible most times…

Yea, I’ll still shoot my Contenders as they are the ones that the barrels attach to with no problem.  The 22LR Match will be my last new barrel…

Good-luck…BCB

[blhof]

 ???I guess I've been very lucky; I've got 2 frames and 5 barrels and they all work fine and all were bought used from different places, most of the barrels bought on Ebay,back when they allowed it.  They get changed out regularly, and I even bring the lot to the range sometimes and go through them all, just for the variety.

[BCB]

blhof,

I have only had problems with the 22LR Match and it is new...

As I mentioned, the older stuff works fine...

Several of my friends are having similar problems with the new stuff--The packaging says that they are designed to fit the G2 Contender as well as the Old-style...

Well, maybe so...

BCB

[Curtis]

That 10 inch gets a tremendous muzzel blast, but very little recoil. More accurate than I am. What fun!

What fun is right!  I too have a 223 in ten inch and it has always been one of my favorites ..........and accurate!  If you ever tire of the blast, try IMR-4198 and a 40 grain pill.  I still keep some of my old loads at the ready though for whenever I want some attention! 

Curtis

[P.A. Myers]

I have an s14 44mag , new barrel, also acting badly. It was very stiff to open, yet often popped open. I found a source for new solid lugs with the separate roller. That fixed it, it opens easily and stays locked even with performance 44s. I am going to do this with other split lug barrels I have. Seems to work.

[Hank08]

BCB, it's a match barrel so it's fitted very tight, the tighter the more accurate but harder to open.  Take a stone and polish the top of the locking lug until it opens the way you want it .  Lugs do come in different sizes but you can only find the right one if you have a pile of them.  When I use to shoot silhouette, a factory rep would come to the matches with a box full and fit them for all the contender shooters.
I still have 4 frames and 28 barrels and they all interchange.  Once in a while I buy an old barrel with solid lugs, I just call TC and they say give me your address, last time I asked for 4 split lugs and in a few days I had them.  The new owners may be tightening up on the free stuff.
H08

[BCB]

Hank28,

I thought when they said match barrel they meant a tighter chamber…

Anyhow, I suppose I could try to polish the locking lugs, but I really ain’t sure how to go about it…

As I look down from the topside of the barrel are the top of the lugs that I cans see, what will need polished?...

I would like to try this barrel on the frame that I have had trigger work done on, but the barrel still shoots well on the only frame it will fit…

Yea, TC ain’t so easy giving out their free stuff anymore.  It took me 4 calls I believe to get them sent to me.  The typical run around each call…

Thanks…BCB

[P.A. Myers]

To ease opening stone surface 'A'. Go slowly, take too much and you need a new lug.

[BCB]

P.A.Myers,

Nice diagram…

I might just give that a try as I do have several sets of the lugs should I mess a set up…

Thanks…BCB

[rong]

I bought a 1970 Contender w/ 2 brls 45/22
I then bought a 41 mag and it locked up
tighter than a druim.I took it up to TCA
and they reworked every brl I have and also
reworked the receiver to "easy open"-no cost.