Crosman 130, 140 self-cocking breech cover question

[RBQChicken]

This winter I resealed my late father's Crosman 130, and currently I am working on a friend's Crosman 140 fourth variant.

I have a question about the breech cover on these guns (I don't know if that's the correct term- it's the metal cover that's attached to the breech bolt by a screw, and you rotate it counter-clockwise to open the breech for loading).

On both guns, when the breech is open, there is some slop in the cover. By that I mean that the screw holding the cover to the breech bolt does not snug down tight enough to pull the cover down so it is snug to the breech.  When you slide the cover all the way forward an rotate it clockwise to close the breech it snugs up nicely, it's just when it's open there is some play.

I'm thinking this is by design, but just wanted to ask to be sure. Thanks!

[longhunter]

Yup. It's by design. Probably to keep from bending, or shearing the screw.

[RBQChicken]

That makes sense. Thanks!

[kev92411]

+1  for what long hunter said - I have two 140's and they both do that.

[Matchstickshooter]

I have the 130 and 1400 1st variant. They are the same. If you break that screw you can sometimes find it on Ebay. They are very pricey!