K98 - trapped barrel? Solution?

[RangeRover]

I finally got a chance to get in closer to my newly-acquired RC K98 this morning.

I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous about tweaking things, gleaned from Web surfing, but based on what I've read, I'm concerned I'm dealing with a trapped barrel (which apparently does no good at all for accuracy).

Here are the symptoms:

There was no play, at all, at the front of the barrel near the barrel band. Rock solid. The front barrel band (early machined H-style) was also a $*&%$ to get off. Lots of drifting with a wooden dowel required.

Is the barrel indeed trapped? How can I determine for sure?

I've read that careful work with a dremel to shave a bit off the barrel band might reduce the contact, but I'm leery of starting in with power tools if any other less risky solutions exist.

Thanks in advance for any counsel. I really appreciate all the help I've already had from the folks on this board.

 

[303carbine]

Did you even bother to try shooting it first..........

 

[RangeRover]

Did you even bother to try shooting it first..........

Nope, not yet. It arrived this past week and it's been minus-way too cold to do anything with it outdoors.

Good point, though 303, not to jump to conclusions. and one of the reasons I've posted here before taking any action.

 

[sunray]

"...with a dremel..." Leave the rotary tool on the bench. It's really easy to remove too much material. And like 303 says, shoot it before you do anything.

 

[paulz]

There is a quote I heard somewhere to the effect that;
"There is no gunsmithing problem that cannot be made worse by an amatuer with a Dremel tool." and I resemble that remark....

 

[gunasauras]

There is a quote I heard somewhere to the effect that;
"There is no gunsmithing problem that cannot be made worse by an amatuer with a Dremel tool." and I resemble that remark....

Cannot say I've ever heard it spoken that well. THe words "dremel" and "Bubba" go hand in hand an awful lot of the time......in a skilled hand, depending on the task, they are perfect. In an amateur hand, they are brutal.....