wedge pin problems

[steviebiggun]

I have a Thompson center Hawken and a Lyman great plains. I have problems, my wedge pins keep falling out. do they make a wedge pin that won't fall out ?

[sabotloader]

I have a Thompson center Hawken and a Lyman great plains. I have problems, my wedge pins keep falling out. do they make a wedge pin that won't fall out ?

This is not all that un-common - what I do os take the barrel out of the stock lay it a a firm but padded surface, and with a hammer and a drift pin tap the under lug in the middle causing it to bend inward slightly then retry the wedge pin. If you do bend it to far you can bend it back out by inserting a screw driver and tapping that under the under lug..

____ _____
|______|
^----- bend this portion up...

If this were the under lug on the barrel - bend the middle of the bridge up. Not to much just enough to create a little tension as the wedge pin is inserted.

Hope this makes some sense...

[cayugad]

A little bend goes a long way.

[bronko22000]

I usually do the same thing but I usually put a slight bend in the wedge pin and not the barrel lug. If you put too much bend in it you can easily tap it on the other end to straighten it out.

[frontier gander]

My deer creek is like that. One goes in tighter if i off set them. Slightly bending them would be a quick simple fix.

[BowHuntingFool]

I had the same problem with my Lyman GPR, I bent the wedge pins, I can always replace the wedge pin for about $7 if I screw it up to bad!

[wabi]

I've used both methods of tightening wedge pins, but I have also had a T/C pin break after I put a bend in it, so now I use Sabotloader's method only.
BTW - The pin that broke WAS defective - had a small void (air bubble) in it when it was cast I guess. Funny thing is it worked fine for a few weeks then suddenly broke and fell out when I took the rifle out of the case one day.

[Rock Lock]

You might try to place the pin on a hard flat surface and tap the edges lightly with a hammer so you move the metal out slightly. If you get a little to frisky with the hammer a couple of strokes with a file will give a custom fit. Easier than bending the barrel lug or the pin itself.
Rock Lock

[yeoman]

If your wedge pin is loose then your barrel is hard against your stock. Bending either the pinor the lug will increase that contact even more. I have a different suggestion.

My GM barrel seats in the tang of my Hawken (after some metal removal)such that when I go to insert the wedge pin I have to gently squeeze the barrel and fore endto fit the pin. With the pin in place, if I squeeze the barrel to the fore endwith the gun on its side, the pin will drop out. In essence, the barrel is "floated" by the hook in the tang.

Don't remove metal, instead, try placing a thin shim against the bottom of the tang thenhook in the barrel, and when you lower it into the stock the shim will cause an increase in the gap between the barrel and the fore end. Squeeze gently and insert the pin. You'll have a barrel floated by the shim. You could affix the shim with hot melt glue if you wish.

Then again, you may decide to bend something. Not everyone is concerned with accuracy.