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View Full Version : PA-63 Barrel Pin Harness Issue:


tallen702
02-10-2010, 10:55 PM
After some time at the range a little while back, I put my PA-63 back into its case and let it sit for a bit without cleaning since I was using non-corrosive ammo and I'd only put about 4 mags through it.

I remembered a few days ago that it needed to be cleaned so I pulled it out, check it, cleared it, and then started breaking it down for cleaning. When I pulled the slide off and set it aside, I noticed a little piece of metal that had fallen to the table. It had obviously broken off of something in the firearm since one end was raw, un-blued metal, but I wasn't sure where it had come from. After some further inspection, I realized that it was the barrel-pin harness that sits under the barrel at the fore section of the breech and barrel grouping. Now, I'm assuming that this broke while in operation at the range as the PA-63 hasn't had any kind of stress put on it while in storage. I also had no resistance in pulling the slide off of the rails, so it's not like it had caught and I was forcing it. I've since ordered a new harness to replace the broken one (since KBI hasn't announced who will do warranty work for them...)

Here come my two questions.

1) Was I putting myself or anyone else around me in danger by firing this weapon when the piece had probably broken without my knowledge at the range?

2) Does this particular piece just snap in place like it appears to do? Or is further work required to install it.

That's about it! Thanks.

tallen702
02-18-2010, 04:22 PM
Update: 2-17-10

After trying to fit the harness over the barrel pin myself, I gave up and took it to the local gunsmith before I did any damage to it. He took care of it in a matter of hours, but he gave me some interesting and useful info that I thought I would pass along.

he said that the barrel pin harness isn't just there to keep the pin in place, but also to keep the slide from wearing out the aluminum frame. I've seen where people here have done their own barrel swaps, and I figured you should know that this piece MUST be replaced for safe operation of the firearm. It wouldn't cause any catastrophic damage immediately, but would eventually wear down and cause the slide to jam during firing.

The gunsmith told me he had to press the harness in place and that without a press you can't get it to stay in place.

That was my $39.50 lesson for the month.