Quick and 218ee
Note:The oblong hinge pin diameter is not workable. Because of the various radii it would not fit the seat.
All I can tell you sofar, I have fired over 50 rounds loaded to hunting specs 20 100gr at 3050 plus and 30 some 75gr at 3450 not max but warm.
Started with "0" gap and still have "0" gap and the action is tight. I did some changes on the forearm pressure and removed the rubber washer.
This extra pressure tightened the forearm hinge piece. When pressing the latch lever the barrel will not fall away. Ready for the next gopher shoot.
If the barrel falls away you are too loose and accuracy will suffer. You need a tight fit between the forearm and the action, but only after you have a tight fit against the standing breech.
A tight breech will pull the barrel back with it the forearm. The mechanics are quite simple once you take a good look at it.
Last test several 3 shot groups were under 1/2". Also this is a high quality custom cut rifled bore. Ron Smith told me that this rifle should not have any trouble shooting 1/2 or less. But that will happen only with a tight lock up, as I have found out.
As I have also pointed out my gap was only 0.003. The dimpling alone
toke up the gap. Of course the raised craters would flatten out without the Devcon Steel Putty.
218 Bee don't ask just try it and find out, nothing to loose. I think 0.007 gap is doable with Devcon Steel. In my opinion the Handi takes a lot of work if you want lasting and consistent accuracy.
If you worry about the price of the Devcon steel, there are quite a few other jobs you can do with it. Like a forearm screw pillar, action beddding, new thread for sling swivel screws etc.
I am thinking of turning the 223Ultra into a real tack driving varmint rig.
That is with an outdated BR cartridge a 6x47 based on the 222Rem Mag.
Using a 1-14" twist with 55gr Nosler BT bullets at 3550 ft.around 59Kpsi.