Is There a Trick to Getting Barrels Rotated Properly Other Than Test Shooting?

[Rogerborg]

Just something that's been bugging me. You know the drill, you have the barrel and rubber out for any reason and put it back.  The slot in the bottom appears to be dead in the centre, the hop unit C-clip cut outs look even on both sides and the clip goes in solidly, everything looks good.  Test shooting in the garage is fine.

 

Then you get to site and lo and behold you're hooking or slicing off to the side because the barrel's mis-rotated, and it's a field-strip and wiggle to get it squared up.

 

Is there a super-secret techie trick to getting the rotation spot on, or is it just a case of trial and error?

[Adolf Hamster]

Its a case of trial and error for *most* hop units.

 

You can do a lot by looking down the barrel with the hop on slightly and doing it by eye but even then its not perfect.

 

Its the one reason to consider a more premium unit like a maxx or combat union as the manufacturing and tolerances make for a setup that sits square without hassle.

[Trixxeo]

Its most likely the hop bucking than anything. The notches in the barrel will stop it twisting. 

[Adolf Hamster]

8 minutes ago, Trixxeo said:

Its most likely the hop bucking than anything. The notches in the barrel will stop it twisting. 

 

even with the hop sat in its notch it can stretch either side to make the top sit off square.

 

plus there's things like how square the nub is, how square the arm is, and how centred the arm/nub are over the barrel.