Factory recoil lug bending. Wow !

[tbrice23]

I've replaced a few recoil lugs with trued thicker lugs but I just realized that the factory lugs on heavy recoiling light rifles bend.

Had no idea.
I just changed one and noticed this. I decided to check the rest I had saved and they're all bent except for one that was a 308 win.
I'm sure other guys know this, but I had no idea.

 

[J E Custom]

What kind of rifle was this on ?

I have seen this before and have gone to the aftermarket lugs.

It also has more to do with the lug material (Hardness) than the thickness, and the contact the lug has in the stock. If it is only contacting the bottom of the lug, this can bend them.

J E CUSTOM

 

[lngrnghunter]

it has happened to my savage in 338 lapua

 

[tbrice23]

What kind of rifle was this on ?

I have seen this before and have gone to the aftermarket lugs.

It also has more to do with the lug material (Hardness) than the thickness, and the contact the lug has in the stock. If it is only contacting the bottom of the lug, this can bend them.

J E CUSTOM

They're all from Savage with Accustocks.

I knew that the thin lugs were susceptible to deflection but I didn't know that they could have permanent deformation of this level.

 

[shortgrass]

The cause,,,,,,,, improper/poor bedding.

 

[tbrice23]

The cause,,,,,,,, improper/poor bedding.

Accustock.

After a few hundred shots the only place the lug contacted the rail was at the very top .

By the way, this accustock is getting replaced with a McMillan HGT and bedded with Devcon 10110.

 

[tbrice23]

I thought i was having trouble with these factory barrels quitting on me early.
Now I am not so sure the barrels are going bad so early but that it is the lack of lug contact.

 

[tbrice23]

it has happened to my savage in 338 lapua

Was yours an Accustock ?
If not, how thick was that recoil lug ?

 

[shortgrass]

I thought i was having trouble with these factory barrels quitting on me early.
Now I am not so sure the barrels are going bad so early but that it is the lack of lug contact.

That is part of poor/improper bedding. Part of a good bedding job is making sure the lug is making very good contact. Just 'cause it's got aluminum in the stock doesn't make it perfect, and they're usually far from it. Accu-Stock = gimmic

 

[tbrice23]

That is part of poor/improper bedding. Part of a good bedding job is making sure the lug is making very good contact. Just 'cause it's got aluminum in the stock doesn't make it perfect, and they're usually far from it. Accu-Stock = gimmic

So if the bedding was in 100% contact with the lug they would not have bent ??

 

[J E Custom]

So if the bedding was in 100% contact with the lug they would not have bent ??

It probably wouldn't, But some recoil lugs are very soft. These are normally punched out and they need to be soft to punch. The Savage is notorious for that and when replaced with a hardened and ground aftermarket lug you get more strength and precision.

I have not bent the Remington lug, even on a 416 with no brake, but I still replace them if I work on them. I also bed the Lug front and back so the lug is correctly supported.

I also don't Pin the lug or use a lug that has the pin hole in it (This weakens the lug and receiver In My Opinion).

My preference in lug thickness is .200 to .250. any thicker and to much stock has to be removed
to get it to fit and this weakens the stock in my opinion.

So Like everything else, Most problems are a combination of things poorly done.

J E CUSTOM

 

[tbrice23]

My replacement lugs are all .240" .
I admit one that I've replaced I'm not 100% sure was hardened, I haven't had problems with it yet.

 

[shortgrass]

The 'useability' of an item (not just recoil lugs) can be increased in two different ways. Either by increasing the hardness/toughness of the item or increasing the mass of the item.

 

[lngrnghunter]

Was yours an Accustock ?
If not, how thick was that recoil lug ?

It was a hs precision stock.
the recoil lug is .238 thick .