Two things, - that missing "C" clip on the trigger assembly is fairly common I'm told, - I had one missing too on a new Phantom. I would STRONGLY suggest one of your accuracy problems is with the factory trigger on the Whisper - waaay too much travel. You have to kinda guess when it will fire, and it's not always at the same point. Which makes things even worse. ... For $32.00 buy a GRT-III trigger from Bob, - you won't believe the difference in that gun. Your accuracy will improve 100% - and your wife WILL survive quite well,even if she doesn't think so - honest. ... Installing the GRT_III is a piece of cake, - you won't have a problem. - I doubt there's anything very practical you can do with the Whisper's barrel, - it should be ok as is, isn't that one of the reasons you bought it to begin with??? ... Good luck and let us know how things turn out, ... (BTW - if you really want to get a second "C" ring, - take the one you have off - and go to a hardware store, they should have a match)