Remington 700

[LAH]

Will moving the recoil lug a small fraction of an inch loosen the barrel to any degree? Thanks guys.........Creeker

[Bullshop]

I dont understand the question. The recoil lug on a Rem 700 is sandwiched between the barrel and receiver. You wont move it unless you loosen the barrel.
At least that is my understanding.

[deltaenterprizes]

No, I have done it when the lug was a little off after tightening the barrel.

[Bullshop]

Would that work in either direction or only clockwise? It seems like if you go counterclockwise it may loosen the barrel again.

[John Taylor]

get one of these and there is no problem http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=516735

[scb]

Would that work in either direction or only clockwise? It seems like if you go counterclockwise it may loosen the barrel again.

That would be my thought as well.

[shotman]

why? some 700s like a small base die mine does try that first

[oneokie]

How small of a fraction of an inch? The factory Rem recoil lug has a dimple that fits a recess in the front receiver ring to prevent rotation of the lug.

Why are you wanting to move it? To glass bed the action? If so, and the lug is tilted, just remove material from the high side of the lug so that it will not be keyed in the stock by the glass bedding. Some cold blue will work for the bare metal exposed.

[fireball168]

The factory Rem recoil lug has a dimple that fits a recess in the front receiver ring to prevent rotation of the lug.

That's Savage.

The only Remington bolt gun that I've ever seen that had a "dimple" were the 788's where they peened a corner of the recoil lug in.

[Char-Gar]

The guy is talking about whacking the recoil lug a smidgen on an existing barreled action.

[LAH]

OK here's the tale. I have a new Hogue overmolded stock. I took my 30 double 06 out of the factory plastic & placed in the Hogue stock. Groups BTW with from 1.5" to .75". The thing is............... the barrel isn't centered in the barrel channel, though it is floated. To center the barrel the factory gives these instructions[read below]. If I follow them I only wonder if there is a chance of breaking the barrel/action bond even though the recoil lug is a seperate piece?

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture.jpg

[405]

I read that instruction sheet for nudging the lug in one direction or the other with a hammer blow. If it is a factory installed barrel then they can be REALLY tight. BUT, I'm still mystified by the need to do it. Seems that if the lug IS correctly oriented with the rest of the action why in the world move it out of plumb? It should be plumb and correctly oriented when put together at the factory. If the gun has been re-barreled or worked on by a gunsmith and the lug is not aligned with the action then he messed it up. If that is the case, put the barrel in a barrel vise, use an action wrench, loosen the action slightly and put the lug back into perfect plumb, re-tighten. Use witness marks if necessary. Sure seems like relieving stock material around the lug in the stock recess and re-bedding if necessary is the best way. Whacking on a lug with a hammer while the barrel is tightened down seems more blacksmithy than gunsmithy to me.

[flounderman]

I don't know that you can move the lug hitting it. I have seen barrels with a relief cut ahead of the receiver, so they could get the barrel to come loose to take it off.

[LAH]

Wish I could answer some of your questions but can't. From what I understand from other projects the recoil lug isn't fixed or "dimpled". It will move if struck & I don't think in my case it will have to be moved even the full width of the pencil line. I'm using the rifle at present for deer so after the first of the year I'll tear it down. It shoots fine as is, the barrel is floated full length of the channel but is slightly off center so doesn't quite look right. I thought with all the years of shooting & gunsmithing here someone may have done this. Maybe ole Creeker will be the first. HEE HEE

[deltaenterprizes]

See post #3, I have done it. The rifle shoots great, the lug moved slightly when the barrel was tightened.

[405]

Still a mystery! If the lug is plumb and square with the action why mess with it. Seems bass ackwards and counter productive to me. Every Rem 700 accuracy gunsmith I know relieves, alters or modifies the stock then beds the action into the stock instead of approaching it the other way around. Some use polished, beefed up lugs when putting custom 700s together but they don't tweak the barreled action, after the fact, to fit the stock.

[S.R.Custom]

You may be able to smack the recoil lug around a bit and not affect the tightness of the barrel to any appreciable degree. (Indeed, the Rem 700s I've taken apart have had thread locking compound on the barrel threads, and nothing short of the will of God --or a relief cut on the lathe-- was going to loosen those barrels.) Use some penetrating oil on the lug before hammering. If that doesn't work, application of the file or Dremel on the wide side of the lug may be in order.

But depending on the stock, it may be channeled/molded such that it accommodates the round shape of the receiver. Or the placement of the mounting screw may prevent the desired fit. (Or maybe that's the cause of the problem?) In either case, you have an exercise in inletting on your hands.


...Whacking on a lug with a hammer while the barrel is tightened down seems more blacksmithy than gunsmithy to me.

There is no clean line of distinction between the two. Much of what a gunsmith does --or a manufacturer for that matter-- is "blacksmithy." Many synthetic stocks are merely plastic and do not lend themselves to normal fitting techniques such as glass bedding. In those cases, manipulation of the metal to conform to the stock is necessary.

[LAH]

OK hunting season has past. Here's a few picture of the rifle barrel/channel. As you can see the barrel isn't centered.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture555.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture555.jpg

Notice the barrel is floated.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture556.jpg

[LAH]

Like I said, deer season is over & time to work with this rifle. Following the instructions above I removed the stock, scribed a pencil line on the recoil lug & action, & struck the lug. After several trips in & out the stock..........Done. I’ll see how she shoots shortly.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture562.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture563.jpg

[Antietamgw]

get one of these and there is no problem http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=516735

The jig is real timesaver! Especially since the lugs like to move a hair when you snug the barrel up.

If you want to confirm that your lug is now plumb you can do a quick check with a couple of good squares if you have them. This isn't "last word" accurate but it isn't bad. Square off the scope base and the bottom of the recoil lug. The framing square that fell off the roof probably isn't the one you want... Just sight along the two parallel legs of the squares. Your eye is pretty good at detecting small differences. The longer the legs on the square, the easier it is to determine whether the legs of the square are parallel or not. This older 700 just came to me and was close at hand so I set it up to snap a pic. Guess what, the lug isn't plumb to the scope base. Tough to see in the pic but easily stood out even with these short little squares. Guess I've got some work to do....
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h232/Antietamgw/Remington/700%20270/Rem700270009.jpg

[S.R.Custom]

.......Done. I’ll see how she shoots shortly.

Cool. Check to be sure the forward end of the stock is not bearing on the rifle barrel when it sits on a rest. Those synthetic stocks can be pretty squishy...

[LAH]

Cool. Check to be sure the forward end of the stock is not bearing on the rifle barrel when it sits on a rest. Those synthetic stocks can be pretty squishy...

I'll check that. I don't think it will be a problem though as this stock uses an aluminum block that completely surrounds the rifle action & extends full length into the forend. But like I said, the proof is in the shooting. Can't wait.

[jeff100]

Sorry if this is a stoopid question, but I"m intrigued. I've used these Hogue stocks, so I know what the stock is like. Was the recoil lug slightly out of alignment as it came from the factory, and that was causing the problem with the stocK?

[LAH]

Sorry if this is a stoopid question, but I"m intrigued. I've used these Hogue stocks, so I know what the stock is like. Was the recoil lug slightly out of alignment as it came from the factory, and that was causing the problem with the stocK?


Can't say as I have no way to check it really. Per instructions above the problem I had must not be uncommon. I'm "guessing" the lug was off a bit. I understand those instructions aren't for rifles with fixed lugs.

How you like the Hogues?

[LAH]

Now that the rifle looks good down the barrel channel only shooting will tell the tale. I fired the loaded ammo which was left after deer season before taking the rifle down to move the lug so it’s time to put some more ammo together. The rifle wasn’t shooting bad as it was. Four shot groups were running from 1 to ¾ inches at the standard 100 yards. My 500 yard range is snowed in so I’m using the DNR range which at the longest is 185. Here’s what it looks like.
From the bench
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture544.jpg

From the targets to the bench
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture541.jpg

Here’s the little rifle on the bench
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture545.jpg

[LAH]

The rifle is short on glass so my 185 yard bulls are 4 inch
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Firearms/700%20Remington%2030-06/Picture543.jpg

I size with the standard Rock Chucker & trim with a Hornady trim station
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture567.jpg

After the sizing & trim the cases are tumbled, then primed & loaded on my old Dillon 450 using a universal decapping die in station one to be sure the primer pockets are clear. The powder is dropped at station two & the bullet seated at station three. The three blue containers are left to right, bullets, empty brass & loads.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture566.jpg

[LAH]

The bullets are Remington 308-150-CL
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture569.jpg

The two blue containers to the right of the press contain the empties & loads
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture564.jpg

Here’s a shot of loads in the press
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture568.jpg

[LAH]

The Remington CL bullets are seated to achieve a 3.35” OAL
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture572.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture573.jpg

The loads are done so into the tumbler they go. A clean round is a happy round.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Loading%20Equipment/Picture576.jpg

Hopefully I’ll get to the range next week & see how they shoot in the 700 after moving the recoil lug.

[S.R.Custom]

Looks good; I've only got one comment...


The bullets are Remington 308-150-CL.

I'm not a big fan of Remington jacketed bullets. Of all the major MFRs, these I've found to be the least accurate...

*reaches for popcorn*

My favorite affordable, jacketed .308 bullet in the 150 grain class is one of the Sierra units.

[LAH]

Looks good; I've only got one comment...



I'm not a big fan of Remington jacketed bullets. Of all the major MFRs, these I've found to be the least accurate...

*reaches for popcorn*

My favorite affordable, jacketed .308 bullet in the 150 grain class is one of the Sierra units.

I'm not really of fan of CL bullets either. I bought a case of these sometime ago at a price I could turn down. I loaded them for others & shot a bunch myself. There's 'bout 200 left.