Guys,

Is there a rule of thumb for when you need a barrel recoil lug on a Mauser actioned rifle?

Thanks!

4000 ft/lbs is maybe.. 5000 is yes

A barrel lug distributes some of the the recoil forces up into/onto the stock forend. You can do the same by using a steel/alum recoil lug abutment with a 1/4"- 5/16" rod attatched running up into the forend and the whole shebang epoxied in plus helping with the flex. It's a lot easier than installing a barrel lug and re-bluing...unless it is adjunct to a new rifle/stock.

I do the "extra lug/rod" on 375 cal and up plus a wrist pin. A cross bolt at the rear of the mag box cutout helps stabilize the flexing of the mag well sidewalls and trigger cutout but if you forget about the "bottom metal" and use a blind mag plus leave some extra wood in the walls and mag bottom it certainly helps.

Luck

Reason I ask is that am not sure I understand why my .376/.416 Steyr improved is acting wonky. Is built on a commercial FN action. Has a Timney trigger, custom mounts, and a 1.8-5.5 Zeiss Conquest mounted.

Is bedded with epoxy loaded with atomized stainless steel into a Fajan's synthetic stock. (Same stock I used on the .458 AR but it has a large recoil lug that pushes against a block of 7075.)

The rifle is a tack driver with 400 grain cast bullets driven by 35 grains of AA5744. Mildish load probably abt 1800 fps. Makes clover leaves at 100 yards.

If I shoot heavier loads like 350 gr Speer Mag-Tips at 2200 fps ... it opens up badly!

Foobar ... can;t quite visualize the set up. Can you please explain more?


The whole thing could bite me again as I am finishing a .376 Steyr on a 1909 Argy on the same stock now.

Thanks!

Foobar, can you please show a picture of your forearm rod? Sound like a neat idea.

Hey Mike,
Stupid question here: Are you sure the hotter load is accurate?
Checked the velocity spread and all that?

Cheers, John

Phatman,

Have tried everything else ... velocities and SD are good.

I really suspect the stock is flexing.

Mike,
the ruger paddle stock, in a 500 AR, flexs really bad.. its kinda COOL