First build frustrations....

[dlbarr]

Working on restocking a TC hawken with a replacement stock from TOW which I understand comes from Pecatonica. Have (separately) fit barrel and L&R lock to the stock.

With lock installed (without barrel) it operates flawlessly.

Barrel lays in the channel nicely (without lock) and key fits through the tennon etc.

When installing the barrel with lock in place, the barrel will not seat fully in the channel (off by 1/16-1/8"). It appears that the barrel is hitting the lock mainspring. When holding the barrel in place with my hand around the stock, the lock will not go to full cock. There appears to be a whole lot of meat on the mainspring of this RPL lock. Also, the hooked breach tang has been rounded off on the lower side next to the lock. Am I in a position that I'd have to file some meat off the barrel in that area as well? Somehow I can't feel very good about doing that sort of thing...

Would appreciate any input on this. Thanks.

[chubby]

If your lock panel is to the width that you want then i would check to see that your lock plate is square with the side flat of your barrel.it may be tilting when you tighten your screw. You may have to work on the width of your main spring a little, I would not mess with the barrel! Hope this may help.  Chubby

[smylee grouch]

On the TC lock the factory snail used to have a grove under it that the lock plate went into. The TC lock plate was thin enough to alow that. Your new lock might not alow the lock plate to get up against the barrel and the snail might be holding the barrel up. Some thing to check on.

[okieboy]

 You could probably get a clearer idea of exactly where your interferences are by doing some stain transfers.
 Do them in both directions; put stain on the barrel and breech and see where it hits the lock. Clean the barrel, put stain on the lock and see where it hits the barrel and breech.
 For this sort of thing I use cheap womens lip stick in various colors. I rub it on and then thin and spread it out by daubing it with the tip on my finger.
 Hope this helps.

[frogwalking]

I make it a standard policy to always install the barrel, then the lock.  Conversely, when disassembling, remove the lock first.  In many rifles, the lock screw goes through the bolster on the breechplug.  Also, I have had barrel/lock combinations where the lock screw (or front screw if the lock has two screws) hit the bottom of the barrel and required a shallow groove in the barrel to allow proper fit.  Obviously, don't make this groove too deep for safety's sake.  How deep depends on the barrel.

One other possibility, as you thought, sometimes the mainspring does interfere with the barrel.  Someone with more knowledge needs to tell you how to get around this.  I have fixed this situation before, but am not qualified to advise someone else.

[smylee grouch]

Does the lock fit the breech when both are out of the stock?

[Mark Elliott]

I can't speak to what is going on with the breech without looking at it, but it is not unusual for me to bevel the mainspring to fit up against the barrel.   I have also filed a little metal off the barrel to get the lock to mate.   I would study the situation well before making a change.   The use of a transfer agent on the lock should also be instructive.
 

[kaintuck]

And I am just looking for that cheap women that I can get lipstick FROM.......

marc n tomtom

[Thawk]

And I am just looking for that cheap women that I can get lipstick FROM.......

marc n tomtom

I see you use the Historically Correct method of gathering lipstick.

[dlbarr]

Thanks for your input, guys. I am away from home & shop on business - I will work with these suggestions when I get back on the wknd.

[retired fella]

All good info.  I believe that if you don't get frustrated you aren't learning anything.  Getting through the problems is fun and appreciating your work at the end of the build.  Now the fella's that do this for a living might differ but they have been through it early on.

[Jerry V Lape]

Oh man, you all beat me to the Cheap Women responses! 

[Willbarq]

And I am just looking for that cheap women that I can get lipstick FROM.......

marc n tomtom

Lipstick on your collar? why not just steal her lipstick? Easier. LMAO

[dlbarr]

On the TC lock the factory snail used to have a grove under it that the lock plate went into. The TC lock plate was thin enough to alow that. Your new lock might not alow the lock plate to get up against the barrel and the snail might be holding the barrel up. Some thing to check on.

This was the very problem. Thanks to all for your input.