I just bought a Model 70 Winchester in 375 H&H Safari Express. IT is a used gun I got at a gun shop. I wanted to see if it was beded; it is piller beded, that is good; But I see that it "HAD" a barrel mounted recoild lug. It has been removed. the area is gound down to the barrel and I see slight evidence of "seperation" between the barrel and recoil lug "insert". Is this good or bad? What is the manufacturing process of this barrel mounted recoil lug. It appears that the lug was inserted into a recess in the barrel. I am concerned about strength in this area as it appears that the barrel has a square discontinuity in the barrel where the recoil lug used to be. Is this area a problem or not. Is it common practice to remove these barrel mounted lugs and do they leave a "crack" in it's place??????

Damn, looks like some gunshop commando partschanger did his handiwork on your rifle. All bigbores should have a shoulder or recoil lug in which the action marries itself to the wood. I'd let a REAL gunsmith check this out. There is a chance that the wood will split if you shoot it as is. If you don't have too much into it, re-do the whole mess and have lugs put it with the crossbolts also.

My Safari Express had two recoil lugs on it! the front one was a bit askew so we sent it back to be straightened. My shoot very well!

My pre-64 M70 Super Grade .375 H&H did NOT have the barrel lug, and it worked fine!! However, the extra security provided by one seems to be a good idea on rifles from the .375 H&H on up!

My win. mod 70 375 also has two recoil lugs and I belive they are put on for a good reason. I would have a gunsmith that you trust take a look at it and see, it maybe just fine. The only draw back that I see with two lugs is finding a syntheic stock for it. Greg

I hate to see someone mess with a rifle like that but perhaps it shoots better without the extra lug, a distinc possibility....

To answer your question a 375 H&H does not need a second recoil lug...A good glass bed job will hold everything together until the cows come home.

Thanks for your input guy's. It had 2 recoil lugs from the factory and now it has only the one, but is beded very nicely. the only reason I can think to remove the forward lug is to get it to shoot better, as Ray indicated. But I also don't see why someone could not get it to shoot well with the extra lug. Releaving the lugs in the front and sides should give the rifle the strength and accuracy. I shot it yesterday and it seems to shoot ok with the iron sites. I am going to put a scope on and see how accurate it is off the bench. Do you recommend Talley bases and rings? Standard or QD? or are the Leupold fine too?

Thanks again................JBM

I have the talley mounts and quick release rings on mine and highly reconmend them, I also use a burris 1.75 x 5 scope.