BAT action question......

[Phil]

2 lug or 3 lug?????

6 Dasher....

Which one to use and why?????????

 

[SS427]

Someone asked the same thing on BR Central. Check out that thread for lots of opinions and some Internet facts.

 

[GermanS1]

Phil, they're both great actions, you won't go wrong with either.

I chose a 3-lug for my 6XC prone rifle for a few reasons. In no particular order:

Shorter bolt lift - this is nice when shooting prone since I keep the rifle in my shoulder, it just makes for a shorter motion. The BAT has a roller on the cocking pice that keeps the bolt lift effort low and smooth despite the shorter travel. Very nicely designed and made.

More even support to the case head - following Audette's theories on barrel whip caused by less than perfect case wall thickness variance being reduced with a 3-lug or 4 lug action. Count this as a theoretical plus.

I have several other 3-lug and 4-lug actions by other manufacturers and just sort of like that. I might never have bought a BAT if they didn't offer it; not that there's anything wrong with the 2-lug, it just didn't seem as interesting to me.


So, as you can see, mostly a personal preference sort of decision,with a bit of technical justification. So far I've shot three 500 yard matches with it, a 600-42X, a 596-39X and a 598-39X (all prone, 60 shot, iron sight, NRA matches). I'm satisfied with it.

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/08/equipment-breaking-in-bat.html

 

[HPMike800]

I have a 3-lug Bat on an NRA prone rifle also. I don't know that it's helped my scores, but it works well and has a nice Kool factor.

 

[Phil]

Thanks guy`s.....

 

[johara1]

A bat 3 lug has hard bolt lift, but can be made to shoot good. The two lug has easy bolt lift and can be made to better. both suffer from the same firing pin problems.
If you shoot off a rest,hard bolt lift will be an issue,from prone, in a sling it doesn't matter.....jim

 

[Phil]

Jim,

Since i`m new to this custom rifle arena i`m going to ask a stupid question.

What is this firing pin problem you speak of?????

Phil.

 

[dtucker]

I have had about a half dozen Bat actions in 2 and 3 lug. I have never had an issue with any firing pin problems. Is Bat Machine aware of all these problems?

 

[dtucker]

Salazar, Beautiful rifle in the picture. Wish i could have seen the whole thing.

 

[SS427]

From what I can gather off the BR Central website it isn't so much of a firing pin problem per se, but that tweaks to the firing pin can make the rifle more accurate. 2 vs 3 lugs and the firing pin problem is a hotly debated topic as there are currently 95 posts to the thread.

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?72111-BAT-3-vs-2-Lug

Great reading material if nothing else.

 

[GermanS1]

Salazar, Beautiful rifle in the picture. Wish i could have seen the whole thing.

Thanks! Just click the link to the article, there are a couple more pictures in there that can be enlarged.

 

[butchlambert]

German
Did you post your photo wrong? The bolts on the wrong side and the scope on it isn't large enough for my poor eyes. It is a beautiful rifle! Even with those problems.
I had Dwight Scott address the firing pin problem. I have not had an opportunity to shoot it with the mods yet.
Butch

 

[GermanS1]

Butch, it's a factory second with a few mistakes as you noted - cheaper that way!