Is a loose barrel normal?

[theBuilder]

Hey guys, I recently bought my first pistol, so i am really not very familiar with handguns yet. Anyways, i picked up a Star Model Super B, and while messing around with it, i noticed that while the slide is locked back there is quite a bit of back and forth slop in the barrel. To me this seems like a not-very-good thing, but figured i had better ask. Thanks for the help

Jon

 

[m39a2]

With the slide locked back, that's fine.

Scott

 

[theBuilder]

Okay thanks Scott

 

[kodiakjack]

A-ok

Some pistol barrels even have a pronounced tilt as the slide comes back to aid in reliably feeding the next round into the chamber.

 

[Dsiwy]

The barrel has to tilt on a browning style locking system, that's how it unlocks from the slide.

The slop is not only normal, but need to function reliably.

 

[theBuilder]

Awesome, i am glad that i asked. Thanks for the learnin'

 

[Ganderite]

Barrel tilts down to unlock from slide. Nothing to do with feeding.

So far as I can see, all barrels are sloppy when slide is back.

In a target pistol, the barrel should be tight when the barrel is locked up, ready to shoot. A military pistol (like yours) would have some clearance.

 

[kodiakjack]

Barrel tilts down to unlock from slide. Nothing to do with feeding.

So far as I can see, all barrels are sloppy when slide is back.

In a target pistol, the barrel should be tight when the barrel is locked up, ready to shoot. A military pistol (like yours) would have some clearance.

My mistake... can't think of where I'd heard that... must've just been my own assumption. My apologies.

 

[BCRider]

I'd say it's more fair to say that it's a combination. The KEY reason is to unlock the lugs of the barrel from the slide. It's a key feature of the delayed blowback operation. But the angle also does aid the next round feeding a little easier. It doesn't need to turn through as much of a distance and angle by having the barrel breech drop down closer to the magazine.

 

[Dsiwy]

I'd say it's more fair to say that it's a combination. The KEY reason is to unlock the lugs of the barrel from the slide. It's a key feature of the delayed blowback operation. But the angle also does aid the next round feeding a little easier. It doesn't need to turn through as much of a distance and angle by having the barrel breech drop down closer to the magazine.

Browning locking system is Recoil operated and not delayed blow back FYI.

 

[Ganderite]

I am hard pressed to think of any gun I have that could be called a delayed blowback, except the 1928 Thompson (blish block) and maybe the 1907 Savage.

 

[Dsiwy]

I think the only Pistols in Canada that are Delay Blowback are the HK P7 and P9