Another Uzi question

[Scooty Puff Sr.]

Which configuration is better to have and why.

Uzi SMG with the barrel restrictor rimg in place or the traditional SMG barrell set up.

As you may know I have been having FTF issues and the bolt is suspect. Well today my new bolt arrived from Vector and it is not cut out for the restrictor ring. Now Vector can make a bolt for me no problem, but should I have the restrictor ring removed or leave it in its current configuration.

Thanks,

Scooty

[Scooty Puff Sr.]

Surely there is someone who can offer their wisdom on the questions above.

[Bob T]

Go for bringing the trunnion and restrictor ring being brought to SMG specs. That way you can use either semi barrels or SMG barrels. You will also be able to use any SMG bolt.

Those SMG parts seem to be readily available and priced decently.

[amphibian]

Personal preference.
If you already have a bunch of spare barrels/bolts for a receiver which has the semi spec trunion and ring then I'd say leave it alone.

Another reason to leave the trunion alone is the following:
A friend of mine worked on UZI which had experienced a squib load and it bulged the barrel and the trunion. It bulged it right at the end where you would need to open up the trunion to SMG specs. This UZI was still semi spec so he bored it out to SMG spec.
What if it was already SMG spec? Then he would have to replace the trunion or make some kind of bushing to go in the existing trunion. Both options I would rather not have to go through.

Regarding the restrictor ring, it has been said that Uziel Gal himself preferred having the ring as it does provide additional support.
It does suck that IMI open bolts are not clearanced for them. (note that Group Industries open bolts are).

Also note that you can trim the ring down so that a regular bolt can go over the ring.

I also recently examined an UZI that experienced an out of battery.
This UZI had the restrictor ring still in place and was a trimmed down one.
The UZI suffered minor damage. One of the welds that holds the restrictor ring in place broke.
The top of the ring where it was relieved the most was broken. The front part of the case that exploded was still in the chamber which I think is proof it did detonate in the chamber.
However the barrel looks fine. It is a LITTLE out of round. I believe the ring prevented any further damage. I think the barrel would have suffered more damage if the ring had not been in there.
The bottom feed lip of the bolt was also ripped off.

All that said, my MINI and full size UZI's all no longer have the rings in them but I do miss having additional support/strength but I like the interchangeability of not having it.

Again, regarding the additional support, note that with the exception of the IMI MINI SMG barrel and the Tim Bixler 3 lug barrels, all other MINI barrels do not have the proper size secondary barrel band so if you don't have the ring, it wobbles around. Even with the barrel nut tightened, I can push down on the breech end and see the barrel move.

This will be the case, with full size UZI barrels as well if you don't have the secondary barrel band on the barrel and no ring.

So I guess you will have to determine what is more important to you.