Loose Barrel Band

[Zen_Seeker]

I have a almost new Double Badger that I have been lightly tweaking to be my grouse gun this season. After all was said and done it was shooting very well and accurate. However after about 300 rounds of rimfire and a few dozen .410 the barrel band is loose. If I hold the front sight and push/pull left/right the top barrel moves right or left about 1/8". At 10 yards it seems to be shooting a bit to the left now, POI is about 1/2" left.

These barrel bands are only glued in place, by the looks of things, and it doesn't have a screw or pin. It seems to be metal, not plastic, and has the front fiberoptic sight. I'm wondering if I could use a wooden block and punch to hammer it down tighter without causing a new problem? I can't tell if the band is pot metal and cast, or something else as it's painted. I also wondered if tapping the band down, with a block of hardwood, toward the receiver end would be good enough? As the pic shows no room to drill a hole and pin so either tap tight or glue/epoxy again like OEM.

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Well after a bit of experimentation I've leaned a few things. Tapping the band further down the barrel tightens things, but it can still come loose. Loctite doesn't always work, at least in this case. (Not sure if it twisted after I removed it from the vise, the surface was to oily/dirty, or if the loctite just didn't have anything to grab.)

I also found out that there is a setscrew for the front sight/barrel band but it's under the fiberoptic rod. You need to remove the rod, by breaking it(?), before you can see it. (Haven't seen this just read about it.)

Currently I just tapped it down 1/4" and used a wood vise along the barrels to make it straight/true again. It seems to be holding and shoots perfectly again, at least at 10y, but I'm sure a good bump would change that. I'll probably keep an eye open for a replacement fiberoptic rod down the road before removing the current one to get at the setscrew. Then I can remove the band and clean up the area before replacing it with better fix.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Can one not press/push the red fibre optic rod out from either the front or the rear?
Might have to file one one off off the plactic finer rod though.
Just an observation as I have mentioned I like to fix things till they break.
Rob

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Can one not press/push the red fibre optic rod out from either the front or the rear?
Might have to file one one off off the plactic finer rod though.
Just an observation as I have mentioned I like to fix things till they break.
Rob

Both ends of the rod seem to be melted flat to hold it in. I assume if I file one end down, or cut it off, it will fall out. So I'm going to wait until I find a replacement rod before I try to remove this one, because I too; "like to fix things till they break."

As I can currently place 10 shots inside a nickle size hole at 10y freehand I'm content to wait, I only have 6 months before grouse season opens again...sigh. I should be able to find a replacement rod by then. I'll take it out once in a while to make sure the band stays tight, and I need to see if I can still do up to 50y/m accurately. I'm not nearly as good with irons as I used to be and they don't have much of a rail you can mount a red dot on. (Newer models like mine don't have the mount holes on the barrel.)

 

[Zen_Seeker]

I finally had some free time to finish this one up.

I used a sharp knife to remove the back of the fiberoptic tube and used a punch to push it out revealing the set screws.

I then backed out the screws, cleaned them up and tightened them down again.

Then a quick cleanup of the old gunk/compound before putting the fiberoptic tube back in. (Old one is in tight but will probably need a new one after shooting a while.)

Bit of a PITA but it's tight, clean, and straight again!

After WobblyHead made his comment I took off the band again to see if I could clean the gunk/loctite out of the inside of the band loops. I'd already done the barrels prior. It didn't go so well.

The bottom loop went perfectly but when I was heating the top loop my wife and son came into my office and started asking me questions, at which point I proceeded to hold the band to the heat a little to long. When I pulled it away from the heat I thought it would be okay, thne it started to shift and melt right before my eyes.

It took a while but I found out Murray Charlton Enterprises looks after Chiappa in Canada so I contacted them asking for a price on a new part. (I told them what I did and why and how it was 100% my fault.) Tim got back to me and said he knew of the original issue and because of that was sending me a replacement, under warranty! Got the new barrel band and a new fiberoptic tube a few days later.

Thanks Murray Charlton Enterprises, Tim, for helping me out. It was an unexpected surprise that is greatly appreciated!

 

[Dan B]

If that is bare metal in the top down pictures use some gun blue and corrosion preventative, moisture will love to hang out under that band.

Dan

 

[Zen_Seeker]

If that is bare metal in the top down pictures use some gun blue and corrosion preventative, moisture will love to hang out under that band.

Dan

It was the gunk they use to "glue" the band in place. I had to clean it off as I moved the band back 1/4". I put oil under it for now but will look for something better when I'm next at the store. Need to pick up a new red fiberoptic tube as well, just in case. Old one is in tight but temperature and use might make it loose.

Thanks for the feedback.
Zen

 

[WobblyHead]

It was the gunk they use to "glue" the band in place. I had to clean it off as I moved the band back 1/4". I put oil under it for now but will look for something better when I'm next at the store. Need to pick up a new red fiberoptic tube as well, just in case. Old one is in tight but temperature and use might make it loose.

Thanks for the feedback.
Zen

The gunk was probably loctite shaft or bearing lock. Loctite is not just for screws you should be able to find some at your local bearing shop which is usually located in industrial areas make sure you get the right strength they go from light vibration to needing a sledge hammer to remove. I would avoid any finishing till the band is reset you need a good very clean surface for the loctite to set properly.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Zen Seeker, you in need of a Beer yet?
Rob

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Zen Seeker, you in need of a Beer yet?
Rob

I was, right after I melted my barrel band! After WobblyHead made his comment I took off the band again to see if I could clean the gunk/loctite out of the inside of the band loops. I'd already done the barrels prior. It didn't go so well. I updated my post above to show the results...