With the CVA rifle , the RR pipes are screwed to an under rib , that’s screwed to the barrel . Once the RR is the stock it the barrel should not come completely off with the rod in place . . There are however exceptions to that . IE where the complete RR channel has been routed and thus is not surrounded by wood or a nose cap which has a hole . In which case the rod has to flex enough so that the breech will unhook and allow the barrel to slide forward ..
I have actually had cases on Traditions and rifles where the rod had to be cut off so as to remove the barrel and reverse the spring . But in most cases one can eather flex the rod just enough OR remove the front lock bolt so as to let the spring fall and reduce friction on the rod .
Concerning locks that wont come out without the barrel being removed . a lot of times that do to the bolster applying down pressure to the lock once the barrel is in place . While the lock needs to suport the drum type bolsters , the bolster should not wedge the lock in . if does then the saddle needs cleaned up little so as to allow the lock to slide out . But in doing so one needs to keep in mind that the lock should slide strait out .
With custom guns , for the most part the RR hole is drilled not fully routed . There for the RR will need to be removed “excluding full stocks “ so that the barrel can be lifted out .
Very few originals have any type of retaining spring . The rod is held in place by either a muzzle tab, canting of the RR channel or by making a slight bend in the RR which acts to hold the rr in the stock and not allow it to slip