Recoil lug bedding question

[tonyben]

I noticed on a SSA M40 stock I have that they broke the edge where the recoil lug meets the receiver face. Is this necessary?

Mine

Theirs

I just bedded this one last night for a customer M40 build and I'm letting the epoxy cure for 48 hours before I install and torque the action screws, so I have time to relieve this if I need to.

Tony.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I usually break the edge.

 

[Toolbreaker]

Breaking that edge would help keep it from chipping during assembly & disassembly. If it chips, the trash could wind up under the action or recoil lug.

 

[tonyben]

Thanks. I'll break the edge. I might add a layer of clay before bedding on future builds.

Tony.

 

[swd]

I just break the edge with a scraper or razor blade. You don't need clay. It doesn't need to be anything like the one in the picture. Here's one I did last week. Just enough to break the edge is all you need.

 

[tonyben]

Got it! Done!

 

[Judd]

I was taught to break the edge so it won’t chip in the future too. I’ve got a small half moon on one side and flat on the other file I use to break that edge and break the edge at the top of the stock. Just cleans stuff up and keeps folks from chipping it (as Toolbreaker mentioned above).

 

[AlNyhus]

I chamfer all the edges in the recoil lug pocket. A miniature round needle file works well for this. I also lightly bevel the top parting edge at the stock line so the receiver doesn't 'grab' that edge going in or out. Chamfer the tops of the screw holes and sides/back of the bedding under the tang, also. -Al

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

While bedding the lug on front and sides is debatable, the one area I think we all agree that ya don't want anything to end up is directly beneath the lug. So, breaking the edge etc helps prevent something breaking loose and getting under the lug. There's different ways to approach this but I find it very easy and effective to simply take a few thou from the bottom of the lug after bedding. It's not even critical because it's just clearance. I just put the bbl'd action in the mill and take about .015 from the bottom of the lug, then deburr with a file. Works great and beats fooling with trying to dig tape out of bedding down inside of the recoil lug recess.