I guess "set back" is the common reference for a receiver which has been indented by prolonged hammering from the recoil lugs, resulting in excess headspace. I've read that the recesses can be recut flush, reheat-treated, and the barrel reinstalled and rechambered. All this sounds very expensive, and I'm wondering if the cost is justified. Can anyone explain the process of recutting the recoil lug recesses. What tools are used? Sounds very complicated. Thanks

I suppose it's possible to increase headspace to a dangerous point but it would take a whole lotta firing to do that, IMHO. I'd guess the barrel would be pretty well shot out by that time. I have benchrest actions that are over 20 years old that have been fired tens of thousands of times and you can see some setback but not enough to measure.

Recutting the lug recesses is a very common procedure when building a benchrest rifle. It is done, in a lathe, with a boring bore. It not only eliminates any existing "set back" but also makes both recesses the same length and trues them up with the centerline of the bolt which allows for full contact by both lugs. It's not necessary to re-heat treat anything since the recesses are hard all the way through.

Now, having said all that, if you're working with a surplus military action manufactured under dubious conditions and quality control, all bets are off.

Ray

quote:

Originally posted by dfielder:
I guess "set back" is the common reference for a receiver which has been indented by prolonged hammering from the recoil lugs, resulting in excess headspace. I've read that the recesses can be recut flush, reheat-treated, and the barrel reinstalled and rechambered. All this sounds very expensive, and I'm wondering if the cost is justified. Can anyone explain the process of recutting the recoil lug recesses. What tools are used? Sounds very complicated. Thanks

This can and has happened to some mauser actions and in some cases in less than 100 rounds of shooting. A few of these actions are surprisingly soft but most are just fine.....

One needs to build a special fixture to do this.......it's not worth it IMO unless one has a mint tied up in the gun.....