Gunsmithing recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

[gknittel]

Hi guys, I recently finished my first build.
Remington 700 police on an AICS and other toys.

Today I removed the stocksides and I found something I'm not sure it's the way it should be.

I can clearly see a gap under the factory recoil lug and on the front of it. That's the way it is supposed to be.

The back of the recoil lug seems to be in contact with the AICS' alluminium chassis. But.... when I closely look from either side of the stock with a bright background, I can see that the recoil lug is not making full contact on the AICS. There's light passing in between. The recoil lug is in contact with the stock ONLY in the most upper part, close to the barrel. But as it gets farther away from the barrel (as it gets closer to the bottom of the recoil lug's recess in the stock), the gap between the back of the recoil lug and the aics becomes larger.

I couldn't take a picture of this because I can't align the camera. The gap is really thin, but it's there. Should I leave it alone?

I already unscrewed the action and reinstalled it. I'm applying 65in-lbs to the screws. But before applying full torque, I'm bumping the rifle on the ground so the recoil lug sits back against the back of the recoil lug recess on the aics.

Any help would be great...

Thanks in advance

 

[bsp212]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

Sounds like you're experiencing something pretty commom for a factory Remington rifle. It could be a number of things from a banana shaped receiver or one with a face that isn't true. The recoil lug itself could be the culprit as it may not be flat. This is all the justification necessary for truing a Remington receiver and grinding the recoil lug flat when building a custom action.

Other than doing the truing work, you could either bed it or shoot it as is. If it shoots well as is, I would leave it alone.

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

Probably normal for a factory REM action in a AICS.

The receiver face could not be square.
The recoil lug face could not be flat.
I would guess that the most likely cause is that the tang or rear of the action is seating slightly lower.

Torque only the front action screw firm (not full torque) and take a peek.
Then apply same torque to the rear action screw and peek again.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

I've seen exactly what your talking about in an AICS.
I bedded the lug.

It's always a good idea IMO to bed the rear of the lug, if not the entire action.

Bed it. It easy to do with the skins off. Rough up the aluminum first. Don't forget the release agent!

Good luck

 

[gknittel]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

Thanks alot!! First I will check with the torque experiment. Then I will bed the lug. I still have plenty of epoxy left from the base bedding.

Unfortunately, trueing the action is a VERY difficult task to do in Argentina. Gunsmiths won't do it. I bought a book "illustrated guide to precision barrel fiting" and I read A LOT of info on the web and I know exactly what to do, but I've no access to a lathe and I don't know how to run one. And no machinist will allow me to be present while they work (so I can tell him what to do).

I thought about manson tools but comments from most people here wasn't encouraging.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Hateca]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

Just shoot it. If it shoots well for you don't worry about it.

 

[gknittel]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

And what do you think about the small v-block in front of the recoil lug recess in the AICS?
Will this be ok for helping hold a fat barrel?

A few weeks ago I asked about hanging a 1.250 cylinder out of my 700 action on the aics and most barrel makers told me it's absolutely not recommended unless I use a bedding-friendly stock like mcmillan or other plastic stock.

 

[bsp212]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

I've got 2 Rem 700 actions in AICS stocks with barrels that start at 1.250. One is a Krieger MTU contour, the other a Krieger HV, they finish at 26" and 27" from the lug respectively. Niether one is bedded and I have no issues with them. As a matter of fact, the one with the MTU is my most repeatable rifle with no cold bore shift.

 

[Hateca]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gknittel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And what do you think about the small v-block in front of the recoil lug recess in the AICS?
Will this be ok for helping hold a fat barrel?

A few weeks ago I asked about hanging a 1.250 cylinder out of my 700 action on the aics and most barrel makers told me it's absolutely not recommended unless I use a bedding-friendly stock like mcmillan or other plastic stock. </div></div>

Should be just fine. Going with a larger heavier barrel I would step in to a little thicker lug.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

Just curious, why won't gunsmiths there true an action? If you can own/operate/work on rifles there legaly, what's the big deal about sticking one in a lathe to remove .003" of steel?

 

[gknittel]

Re: recoil lug on aics... not enough contact?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just curious, why won't gunsmiths there true an action? If you can own/operate/work on rifles there legaly, what's the big deal about sticking one in a lathe to remove .003" of steel? </div></div>

In my country most firearms owners are hunters. They don't require trueing an action to put a bullet in a 15" area at 200 yards. Most factory rifles and military Mausers will do that.

Also, shooting in my country is VERY expensive. This keeps most people away from the sport. And the few ones that do shoot, build customs mausers based on old military mausers actions. These rifles are the cheapest ones (we have lots of them).

Also, because of the few people that shoot, very few gunsmiths can survive. And the few that survive are specialized in mausers. And since gunsmithing is not even a business here, gunsmiths can't afford to buy $15000 worth precision lathes.
The only gunsmith that I know with a good enough lathe told me that he won't do any work that is not standarized, even if I provide the tools (only thing he will do is to recut the front of the action... but he won't indicate the action before doing that... he will simply cut based on outside diameter).

It's sad but true. I only know one guy with a SSG08, I'm sure there're less than 20 TRG22 and I know there's only 2 TRG42 in 338 lapua. The 50bmg is not allowed.

Hope this explains...