Gunsmithing Badger recoil lug too tall for my H-S Precision stock... grind to fit?

[Xshot]

The barreled action I picked up here on the Hide has a Badger recoil lug installed. To my dismay I found it too tall to fit in my H-S Precision stock. I don't want to remove the barrel, so I plan on grinding it down as installed. I'll work slow to make sure it doesn't get too hot and square up the bottom with hand files.

I thought to post here before I start surgery.

 

[turbo54]

Or you can grind the recoil lug pocket in the stock a little deeper...

 

[seanh]

Would it be possible for you to find a friend with a drill press and an x/y vice or better a vertical mill? If you can, I'd cut the stock aluminum block deeper. If there is no way you can mill the stock, I don't see a problem grinding down the lug....the only issue being grinding at an angle.

How much do you think you'd have to remove?

 

[Xshot]

Would it be possible for you to find a friend with a drill press and an x/y vice or better a vertical mill? If you can, I'd cut the stock aluminum block deeper. If there is no way you can mill the stock, I don't see a problem grinding down the lug....the only issue being grinding at an angle.

How much do you think you'd have to remove?

The Badger lugs are really tall compared to either standard or .300 HD lugs. I need to remove 3/16" from the lug to get it to fit. Relieving the stock is not an option, because there's not enough material remaining on this particular model H-S stock.

 

[seanh]

Sounds like the only option is to cut/grind the Badger lug. That being the case, I'd scribe a line parallel to the current bottom the length that needs to be removed. I'd measure the depth of the stock lug cut the measure the length of the lug to find what needed to be removed. I'd cut that amount off as my first pass then slowly grind/fit the lug as needed. You may get lucky and get a good fit on your first cut but you'll likely have to remove an extra 1/16".

Good luck...keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Xshot]

Sounds like the only option is to cut/grind the Badger lug. That being the case, I'd scribe a line parallel to the current bottom the length that needs to be removed. I'd measure the depth of the stock lug cut the measure the length of the lug to find what needed to be removed. I'd cut that amount off as my first pass then slowly grind/fit the lug as needed. You may get lucky and get a good fit on your first cut but you'll likely have to remove an extra 1/16".

Good luck...keep us posted on your progress.

Sean -that's pretty much the conclusion and process I came up with. I'll final fit by hand file... it's safer. When I'm done I'll cold blue the bottom of the lug to prevent rust and make it look original. The lug area will be bedded with Devcon and the action skim bedded. Everything should look and fit good once I'm done.

 

[Gene Poole]

I had no problem cutting out my HSP Stock for an oversized recoil lug. It did go completely through the aluminum and into the composite, but still a good 3/8 to half inch of stock below it. I bedded it with devcon after cutting it to size.

 

[Temp9]

I ground down a Holland's lug to fit a McMillan stock. No way I'm gonna risk drilling through a $900 stock. Did the redneck way with a bench grinder, finished on a hand file. Be very careful of overheating. My first couple passes resulted in pretty nice discoloration, so I kept it water cooled the rest of the way. Gun shot great before bedding; haven't shot it after bedding.

 

[E. Bryant]

I had to cut down a Badger lug to fit a Manners mini-chassis (yeah, even the generous lug pocket on that stock wasn't deep enough). I did the task on a mill. I'm sure it could be done by hand, but geez, it seems like it'd take a while. Given no other options, I'd probably attack the lug with a die grinder and carbide burr or coarse disc/hard-roll to do the rough cutting, and then smooth things out with a file. Tape up the surrounding area to minimize the impact of any slips.