Barrel Lugs

[greymount]

Should I use three or four barrel lugs to pin a 42 inch barrel.  Some people say three others say four, or does it really matter? 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

The way to decide is to lay out your rifle from the lock forward, laying your pipes where you want them, and your nose piece to, and then see where your lugs would best go.  You don't want lugs to interfere with the inlet tangs of the pipes, and with three and three, it's easy to make that mistake.  With four and three, either way, it's easier to get everything into the forend without interference.  Lay it out both ways, and you'll see what I mean.

[Benedict]

I have always used 3 lugs with a 42 in barrel but recently someone pointed out that they like to use 4 and since then I have been noticing when 4 were used it looked better.  So I plan to use 4 in the future.

Bruce

[northmn]

I started using 4 lugs.  Somehwere I vaguely remember where that was recommended and I think it gives a little firmer holding of the stock on the barrel.  For what it is worth.

DP

[Acer Saccharum]

The lugs hold the stock to the barrel. Not the barrel in the stock. The forestock is a thin shell of wood, easily twisted or broken. The barrel is what keeps it safe.

The lugs and pins keep the wood protected by holding it close to the rigid barrel. If there is a span of thin forend that seems floppy or pulls away from the barrel, then it should be pinned to the stock. A most critical section is from the nosecap to the first thimble. This I always put a lug in, as close to the cap as practical. The other place is in the middle of the grip. Then should you put one more lug, or two more? think about what Taylor said on the thimble placement, and decide where you can put lug(s).

Acer

[B Shipman]

Acer is right on.  I'll just expand a bit. Aside from layout and trying to copy an origianal, I find that 4 lugs are necessary for a 44 in. barrel, or longer of course, to draw the stock to the barrel without any sag, and that 3 are usually adequate for a 42in. or shorter barrel.

As an aside, if you look at lots of old originals, the majoriy have four ramrod pipes.
Tghe standard today seems to be three.

[AndyThomas]

I don't think anyone mentioned this, the pins don't have to be evenly spaced. You put them where it works out best.

Since I normally build "Early Virginia" style rifles, I place the rear pin just in front of (brass-barrel rifle) or just behind (Adam Haymaker, Simon Lauck) the rear thimble, and use three pins on 42" and 44" barrels. On 48" barrels I use four pins.

Andy