Which action is best - 2/3 or 4 lug?

[Tim N]

Hi All,
This may end up a Ford/Holden type argument but I'm wondering which action people prefer and why?
I have a stiller viper 2 lug action and a Barnard PC 3 lug.
They both work fine but the stiller is more shiney

[bartman007]

Tim if you don't know the answer to that question, then you should just take up fishing.

The clear answer is HOLDEN....I mean 3 lug

[saum2]

Don't listen to him Tim, 2 lug is the way to go, so is that Toyota??

[Tim N]

Hey Michael,
Or was that phishing??
You have to admit the shiny stuff looks better than the barnyard lump of pipe...
I have been too scared to try Matt's borden action as I may have to buy one

[Norm]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

[bartman007]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

Hey Norm, don't you think that more is just that........more better?

Tim,

I had 4 lugs back in the 90's and found it just too much

I tried 2 lugs and found it was just not enough

Then I found the great equaliser, not too much or too little, just right

I know you're a bling monster, enjoy your shiny toy. Maybe you should wear sun glasses when shooting, to cut down the glare or just to improve your image

[AlanF]

I'm no expert but I believe there are advantages to both. I seem to remember someone saying a 2 lug is potentially less effort to work (better leverage), and a 3 lug has the advantage of less bolt rotation required. In both cases I would think the length of the bolt handle could be set to improve things (shorter for 2 lug, longer for 3 lug).

[macguru]

Are you likely to be facing down a charging NT elephant or south australian polar bear while chambering a second round from a magazine fed 375 H&H ?

If so, a 3 lug action may be quicker because less bolt lift is required ...... But if the brass sticks in the chamber then the 2 lug will have better primary extraction.... I recommend a 3 lugger with new brass....

[!Peter!]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

That's the best argument I've heard! I think I'll remove a lug from my action to make things more natural

[AlanF]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

That's the best argument I've heard! I think I'll remove a lug from my action to make things more natural

Should be okay if you take out the middle one....

[KHGS]

How long is a piece of string????? I am not exchanging any of my Barnards for any 2 or 4 lug action! Having said that my hunting rifles are 2 lug actions. Interesting that Ruger's new action is a 3 lug action.
Keith H.

[RDavies]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

In Tims area, this argument would not have been so apparent. Many locals in his area have either more or less of the afore mentioned body parts so he would not have correlated body part pairing with lug count.

[scott/r]

You have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, and two balls.
Its just natural to have two lugs.

In Tims area, this argument would not have been so apparent. Many locals in his area have either more or less of the afore mentioned body parts so he would not have correlated body part pairing with lug count.

There's a saying about a pot calling a kettle black.

[Tim N]

10 mins up the road dosen't make much difference.
Bet you can still hear the banjos!

[RDavies]

10 mins up the road dosen't make much difference.
Bet you can still hear the banjos!

Well my girlfriend has 3 teeth and 3 arms so I will stick with Barnard.

Now how about we hear from the technical people like Dave M or Peter S who can articulate about ramp angles, tenon expansion, primary extraction distances etc to explain how lug count is only a part of the equation on 2 vs 3 lug designs.