I had this FN action (it started life as a Higgins 51) rebarreled a few months ago. It has been sitting in the safe since.
I just noticed a split/crack in the bottom of the front ring.





So the question is why did it crack?

And is there anything that can be done with it other than using it as a paperweigt?

Are you sure it's a crack? Looks like a barrel alignment mark to me.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
Are you sure it's a crack? Looks like a barrel alignment mark to me.

Rich

That's exactly what it is and it's just fine.....if you want to scrap it let me give you my mailing address!

Crack initiation mark.......

Bill,

It's toast ... you need to sell it to me cheap

Seriously, it is indeed the barrel alignment mark. The barrel should also have a mark that lines up with it. If the barrel is removed, it can then be reseated to the same position without changing the headspace.

The good news is that the 'smith trued the front of the receiver.

flaco

Standard alignment mark; no worries.

Thanks for all the replies

Boy do I ever feel like a

quote:

Seriously, it is indeed the barrel alignment mark. The barrel should also have a mark that lines up with it. If the barrel is removed, it can then be reseated to the same position without changing the headspace.

just curious- how do you maintain a high enough tolerance by eyeballing the mark?

Actually is not hard to do because a full turn of the barrel on a 12 tpi thread moves the barrel 0.0833". If you're 2 degrees off compared to the proper alignment of the mark, your positioning error is only 0.0005". Close enough!

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:

quote:

Seriously, it is indeed the barrel alignment mark. The barrel should also have a mark that lines up with it. If the barrel is removed, it can then be reseated to the same position without changing the headspace.

just curious- how do you maintain a high enough tolerance by eyeballing the mark?

I just don't agree with this alignment thing. When I tighten a barrel up, I just give it a firm tug. I could care less where it lines up unless it has sights that need to be oriented or if it has an extractor cut. If I have the shoulder cut to where the barrel comes up to close to the correct position it can be tightened more or less to get it to the correct place. As for the index mark, I think the only thing it is used for is to orient the barrel. As for the headspace factor, 3-4 degrees of rotation won't change the headspace measurement. Besides, I can't even see that alignment notch when I have the barrel in the vise cause the action wrench is up against the vise and I would have to remove it to see the notch.