T/C Hawken,wedge question

I think your flush fitting wedge is fine unless your barrel is loose.
Is the wedge likely to fall out?
All it is meant to do is hold the barrel in the stock channel. I doubt it is affecting the accuracy.

ETA...
My t/c wedge is flush and always has been since 1983

I can’t recall the source now but I remember reading that using a thin piece of leather on the key way was a field expedient fix for loose wedges.

I have 2 TC Renegades and I just checked, mine are both flush fit with no play.

Hope this helps

SASS#23149 said:

I inherited this Hawken , it's a good 40 years old. When I install the barrel wedge it goes in until flush,which makes me think it's not 'wedging' the barrel any.
I've never thought the gun shot as accurate as it should and thinking this could be why ??
Do they sell 'fat wedges' ,or am I wrong in my thinking that it should not fit flush when lilghtly tapped into place ?

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It should just fit flush with a light tap, or even with thumb pressure. It’s supposed to be a light friction fit. To remove it I tap the end with a flask or something similar and then remove them with my fingers. They don’t need to be any tighter than that.

In my opinion, the first reason these guns don’t perform well is that the sights are really pretty course and don’t lend themselves easily to accurate shooting. Many folks don’t spend a lot of time working up the best possible load and then also, many shooters just don’t know how to shoot all that well. I’m pretty sure that’s not true of guys on this forum who are in most respects above average, I’m talking about other people.

If the barrel is snug in the stock all is well, if not adding a slight bend to the wedge will help. Unlike the wedges in revolvers those don't need to be real tight.

The wedge should fit flush with enough pressure to keep it from backing out. If it's too loose you can bend the tenon enough to hold it.

The wedge on my TC Hawken used to slide real easy until a gunsmith pinched down the wedge slot under the barrel a skosh. Now it has a comfortable amount of drag.

This part:



He had it to install a different front sight. This was a bonus. I’m sure you could tweak that slot yourself.

That slot is the tenon.

hawg said:

That slot is the tenon.

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All wedges are flat and you slightly tap them with a 1/4 inch shim under the large side to make a small bevel in it. It should go in and almost snap into place. There is a top and bottom to them too, and that is created after you tapped it. Try it both ways to see which side fits the tightest. It should not loosen after firing the gun.

And if your gun has escutchion plates over the wedge slots make sure the wedge isn't bent so much it lifts them out of the stock.

I slot the wedge then pin it into the stock
Get it to fit just right either bending it slightly or "adjusting the tenon Then pin it and you will never lose it.

I have a CVA Forntier Carbine that the wedge would fall out of,
I took an old cartridge case, cut a piece out of it and wrapped the tenon.
She's a tight fit now and no longer falls out.

AntiqueSledMan.

AntiqueSledMan said:

I have a CVA Forntier Carbine that the wedge would fall out of,
I took an old cartridge case, cut a piece out of it and wrapped the tenon.
She's a tight fit now and no longer falls out.

AntiqueSledMan.

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It would have been a lot simpler to have gave the tenon a little tap. My Hawken is pinned.

44 Dave said:

I slot the wedge then pin it into the stock
Get it to fit just right either bending it slightly or "adjusting the tenon Then pin it and you will never lose it.

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I agree completely. Did this to my GPR over 25 years ago and have been thankful every time I clean it, especially at Rendezvous where things can tend to get lost if dropped.