Loose barrel on the PT92? Not sure how that would be possible.
The barrel is machined into a set of lugs that lock into the frame as the slide returns forward. It can only be slid back, and then it tilts by dropping the feed ramp/barrel towards the magazine as it ejects the empty brass, and feeds the next round up the pipe as the slide cycles.
The barrel is locked into place by those lugs, but it is possible to slightly move the barrel on every single one of these. (Even the Beretta's are this way.)
If the tolerance was tighter, it would jam up from light dust/debris.. As it is, the gun is pretty reliable.
Target accurcy is not affected much by this slight movement.. I did look into adding a bushing on the barrel end that would consistantly hold the barrel in one place, providing better shot to shot consistancy, but the gun is not that in-accurate as it is. (And I have put perhaps 8500 or more rounds through this pistol since buying it in 1985.) In a range, on a rest, I can get 3" groups at 50' easy. The bushing might bring that down to 1/2 the group size, but really now, how accurate do you need your personal defense weapon to be at 50'? At 10' I can put them into a large single hole, with a flyer or two depending on ammo, and rapid fire, 6" round group all 15 in a few seconds. It's very controlable, and has been overall an excellent weapon.
A match grade gun it's not, but then again, it was 300.00 with two 15 round mags. I've added Pachmeyer grips, and had to replace one roll pin on the adjustable rear sight mount, but that's it work wise in all these years. (I have polished the feed ramp, but it really did not need that..) I have thought about having the trigger done, but decided not too as I know the gun the way it is..
I clean the gun when I'm done shooting it, and it's not uncommon to run 500 rounds through it in an afternoon of shooting. (I have a 30 round mag, one 17 and the two 15 rounders, and it's fun to plink with.) The wolf ammo never fails to feed, but I do admit that wolf ammo stove pipes from time to time. (Appears there is not enough powder in the brass, and it does not cycle back the slide far enough.)
Back when we could still get the cheap China SMG 9mm stuff, it was so hot the slid would slam back, and the brass was chucked quite a ways! (That was the stuff that gave this gun a bad name, some claims that the slide would fail, and it would come back and hit the shooter in the face..)
Pretty difficult if you look at the gun design, but mine has never given me any trouble in that regard, and shows no signs of cracks where they "fail" from the hot loads...
.45 hunting eh? Out looking to bag your limit of local thieves and robbers...
Merry Christmas!
