After reading some of Jeffe's postings on the front recoil lug of the model 70's being out of square to the axis of the bore I had to go home and check mine. Wow!!! Really out of square. My question would be should I take it off the barrel to re-square which would mean re-soldering or should I machine the recoil surface that will set against the bedding to make square to the bore? I can do either but it seems that the machine method would be best. Thank you.

I haven't seen one that IS square.. some are close, but none are 180deg across the barrel.

they SHOULD be able to be resoldered square, but a smith will need to do this, i believe.

you will run the risk of taking off bluing, especially if you use comet flux.

you can mitigate this, somewhat, by covering the barrel in soapstone, but TEST this first.

jeffe

Jeffe- Would it be OK if a guy could index a barreled action on a mill to cut the recoil lug square to the bore? I have a machinist friend that is not a gunsmith but recommended this as opposed to taking the lug off. What is your feeling to this method? Thank you again for you help.

You mean mill and dress it square? Use plenty of coolant

jeffe

Pegleg, PM sent.