Recoil lug...?
- Thread starter MC
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CharlieK
Member
Yes, that's why they're called recoil lugs.
Brent
Well-Known Member
You should use a thicker hardened aftermarket lug, such as Badger Ordinance, Holland, Tubb etc...
Recoil will cause the thin factory recoil lug to flex, and yes you do need one, the action will shift and wear out the bedding prematurely, inconsistantcies will cause accuracy will suffer.
Who's doing the work on it?
Recoil will cause the thin factory recoil lug to flex, and yes you do need one, the action will shift and wear out the bedding prematurely, inconsistantcies will cause accuracy will suffer.
Who's doing the work on it?
baldeagle713
Well-Known Member
MC
Bat does mighty fine work. I have a 300 wsm on one of his actions and love it. You'll only cry once with a bat and that's when you pay for it.
Bat does mighty fine work. I have a 300 wsm on one of his actions and love it. You'll only cry once with a bat and that's when you pay for it.
Brent
Well-Known Member
MC,
That sounds off the wall for any smith to say, unless perhaps he wondered if you planned on using a barrel block as the recoil lug?
That sounds off the wall for any smith to say, unless perhaps he wondered if you planned on using a barrel block as the recoil lug?
Darryl Cassel
Well-Known Member
MC
You "WILL" need a recoil lug if your going to conventional bedding, and a thicker one is advisable.
If your going to have a barrel block (either split or glue in) you then would not need a recoil lug. The block acts as the lug.
Later
DC
You "WILL" need a recoil lug if your going to conventional bedding, and a thicker one is advisable.
If your going to have a barrel block (either split or glue in) you then would not need a recoil lug. The block acts as the lug.
Later
DC
Jake in NC
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2002
- Messages
- 328
MC.. I may be wrong but as I understand it the large flat rear of many custom actions serves the same purpose as a recoil lug.. I don't know which configuration you're getting but that may be why the question came up. Some folks insist on a traditional lug.. I've had several rifles that did not use recoil lugs but they were of the lighter recoiling variety and I don't know if a 6.5-.284 would qualify as that.. Good luck with your project.. d:^) JiNC
i have a custom rem. in 6.5-284 #17 26" in a a4 what a shooter and had great succes with the 142 smk this year on deer and elk,as far as the lug goes-as was said a tubb,holland,badger will do just fine.i cant say i would build a rifle without one no matter what the configuration of the action was-my 2 -dave
As I understood it he would both pillar bed it as well as use something like Devcon in certain areas...I don't think I'd want to glue the action in as I've heard some negative comments with regards to that.
I'll probably go with the Badger.
I'll probably go with the Badger.
Brent
Well-Known Member
Jake,
I had never heard that before. I'd be interested in what Bruce's thoughts on this really are. What kind of surface area did those actions have at the rear, Jake? Seems like an action might only offer 25% of the recoil surface that a lug does? Interesting tho.
I had never heard that before. I'd be interested in what Bruce's thoughts on this really are. What kind of surface area did those actions have at the rear, Jake? Seems like an action might only offer 25% of the recoil surface that a lug does? Interesting tho.
chris matthews
Well-Known Member
I suppose the back of an action could be used as a recoil surface but I foresee a few problems with this:
1. Surface area typically would be too small.
2. The tang would act like a wedge and could split the stock.
3. You would have to go to extremes to make sure it recoiled off that surface and not something else- like the action screws.
The biggest problem with a rear- recoil lug sufrace is the action would literally act like an accordian with every shot. Not good.
Take for example the old Remington actions with rear lugs on the bolt- after awhile the bolt was pretty much bent like a bananna.
A recoil surface in front takes all the pressure off the action, only a small amount is transfered through the action via the bolt lugs/ lug seat.
As far as integral recoil lugs (ie Winchesters) in larger calibers with heavy recoil an additional block was attached to the barrel about 4-5" in front of the action and inletted into the stock to act as an additional recoil surface.
The only time I have seen a lug added to an action that had an integral lug was on Sako actions with their "reversed" style lug (a part of the stock stick up into a groove in the bottom of the action) which is typically way to small and we add a Badger, Tubb etc.. type lug. A few recent posts discussed this problem.
Just of few of my observations on the subject.
1. Surface area typically would be too small.
2. The tang would act like a wedge and could split the stock.
3. You would have to go to extremes to make sure it recoiled off that surface and not something else- like the action screws.
The biggest problem with a rear- recoil lug sufrace is the action would literally act like an accordian with every shot. Not good.
Take for example the old Remington actions with rear lugs on the bolt- after awhile the bolt was pretty much bent like a bananna.
A recoil surface in front takes all the pressure off the action, only a small amount is transfered through the action via the bolt lugs/ lug seat.
As far as integral recoil lugs (ie Winchesters) in larger calibers with heavy recoil an additional block was attached to the barrel about 4-5" in front of the action and inletted into the stock to act as an additional recoil surface.
The only time I have seen a lug added to an action that had an integral lug was on Sako actions with their "reversed" style lug (a part of the stock stick up into a groove in the bottom of the action) which is typically way to small and we add a Badger, Tubb etc.. type lug. A few recent posts discussed this problem.
Just of few of my observations on the subject.
Jake in NC
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2002
- Messages
- 328
Hey Brent.. It may be pure BS.. I dunno for sure but a bud who regularly builds rifles says that's the story.. Take for what it's worth.. I got a Python action from Jerry Stiller one time to build a cannon and his attitude was something to the effect of "I'll put a recoil lug on it if it'll make ya feel better".. These actions are engineered a little different from the Remchester's..
.. As far as the real area available for support during recoil, I don't know but if you look at most recoil lugs after installation there ain't a heckova lotta metal left hangin' under there either(the shorter it is, the less leverage there is to work on it?).. If the action screws touch then somebody botched the setup from the git-go..
MC.. Referring to glueing in the action.. Ask the benchresters and I think you'll find that the overwhelming majority are glue-ins.. But that may not be the best option for your needs or the particular action shape you are using..
.. As far as the tang serving as a wedge.. I dunno 'bout that with these action designs.. And I'm extremely skeptical of any "accordian" like motion with this action.. Hehehe..
Boy, playing devil's advocate is a hoot.. d:^) JiNC
.. As far as the real area available for support during recoil, I don't know but if you look at most recoil lugs after installation there ain't a heckova lotta metal left hangin' under there either(the shorter it is, the less leverage there is to work on it?).. If the action screws touch then somebody botched the setup from the git-go..
MC.. Referring to glueing in the action.. Ask the benchresters and I think you'll find that the overwhelming majority are glue-ins.. But that may not be the best option for your needs or the particular action shape you are using..
.. As far as the tang serving as a wedge.. I dunno 'bout that with these action designs.. And I'm extremely skeptical of any "accordian" like motion with this action.. Hehehe..
Boy, playing devil's advocate is a hoot.. d:^) JiNC
