Lock Bolt Thru Breech Lug

[Nhgrants]

Do any one see an issue or problem with the hole for the lock bolt being tight
To the end of the barrel? Thanks

[David Rase]

Not at all.  I just drilled one this morning that is right up next to the barrel.  Had to do it that way to get the lock bolt through the bolster.
David

[Davemuzz]

I've not found a way to do it differently. But......I don't claim to know everything.

[AsMs]

Not at all.  I just drilled one this morning that is right up next to the barrel.  Had to do it that way to get the lock bolt through the bolster.
David

If you use lock bolts with big heads then be sure to use a large radius where the wood blends from the top into the side rails.  I have seen it done with large bolt heads and the wood cut at almost a 90* into the side rails and left no wood between bolt head and cut out for the barrel.  Just does not look right.

AdMs

[jerrywh]

 Just don't foget to remove the back lock bolt beforee removing the barrel. Or Else.

[rich pierce]

Just don't foget to remove the back lock bolt beforee removing the barrel. Or Else.

On a gun made to sell I’d add a note to remove the rear lock bolt to remove the barrel.

The lugs on modern made breechplug a are huge. Probably easy to machine that way and easier to put 12,000 pounds of torque on it when tightening. I’ve seen much more scant plugs on originals but they are not easy to grip. With a less robust plug lug one can sometimes avoid having the bolt locking the breech in place.

[Nhgrants]

Thanks for the replies.  Because of the shape of the bolster, I did not think that I could get all of the bolt behind the cock
actually I mean in the flatten area cast in the plate behind the cock.  I did not like the idea of the drill hole being thru the edge of the flattened area
as I thought the drill would wonder.

I ended up drilling between the fence and the edge of the flatten area,  This brought the bolt quite close to the back end of the barrel.

I would say now that I should have for seen this in the planning stage.  I seen how important it is to look at the geometry of the lock being used.
 

[Long John]

Friend,

I would add one thing to the replies you have gotten so far.  I always make sure that my hole through the lug has plenty of clearance.  It is not uncommon for the wood behind the barrel to compress a few thousandths of an inch after firing a few hundred rounds.  If you don't have sufficient clearance around the lock-bolt that passes through the lug it can bind-up and even split a stock.  You don't want that!  I open-up the through hole a 32nd of an inch over normal clearance you use for the wood.  That way there is plenty of room.

Best Regards,

JMC
John Cholin

[Hungry Horse]

Boring the rear lock bolt hole through the back end of the breechplug is very important when using a back action lock. This is especially true if the forward part of the lockplate doesn’t fit snuggly under the snail, or drum.
 All my tradeguns also are made doubly safe using this method.

  Hungry Horse

[ron w]

 if I were to build a gun for someone else's use, I would be hesitant about just drilling the hole and leaving it at that. I would go a step further and notch the plug so there is no chance of a user wrecking the stock and/or tang, by not knowing or forgetting he has to pull the bolt in order to pull the barrel.

[Eric Krewson]

I may be misinterpreting something here; I always put my lock bolts through the bolster in front of the cock not behind it.

[Nhgrants]

When I said behind the cock, I meant that the hole would be covered by the cock.

[Mike Brooks]

If the bolt goes wholly through the lug I leave it alone. If it hits the edge of the lug I file a slot. You ought to have your lock bolts out if you 're taking your barrel out anyway. In fact, I recommend not taking your barrel out at all unless you absolutely have to.