Lithgow bolt action, removable locking lug insert

[someguy2800]

I picked up Lithgow LA102 in 308 the other day. I have an LA101 in 17 HMR and love it so I wanted to try the centerfire big brother.

Looking in the owners manual I saw in the parts diagram that the locking shoulder is a separate piece pressed into the receiver and clocked with a roll pin. Pretty interesting design. Are their any other bolt actions with this same design? I’ve never seen one like this.

 

[LoonWulf]

The Mauser m18/Sauer 101 do something similar.

 

[troy fairweather]

Yes the usa market mauser m18 and the Sauer 100, the rifles for other then the usa are threadless barrels but still think they use the ring.

 

[Jim Watson]

I once saw a rifle made in one piece, receiver bored out of the rear of a large barrel blank. It had a separate locking insert.

 

[eastbank]

savage made a rifle, model 23 in .22lr, 22 hornet, 25-20, 32-20 that was made that way. the bolt root was the only locking lug.

 

[Jim Watson]

I know. The one I saw made by a small shop in Atlanta had a conventional front lug bolt seating on that insert. I asked the designer what would he do when the barrel was shot out. (Kind of unlikely in a lightweight hunting rifle, but just curious.) He said he would cut the barrel off, inside thread the stump, and screw in a new tube.

 

[LoonWulf]

I know. The one I saw made by a small shop in Atlanta had a conventional front lug bolt seating on that insert. I asked the designer what would he do when the barrel was shot out. (Kind of unlikely in a lightweight hunting rifle, but just curious.) He said he would cut the barrel off, inside thread the stump, and screw in a new tube.

Was the insert threaded in from the rear?

I like odd and this seems like a neat piece of kit if nothing else

 

[Varminterror]

Are their any other bolt actions with this same design?

All of the Seekins bolt action models use this design - they call it a “breech block.”

The Bat Vampire uses a similar design, but their steel sleeve is pressed into the aluminum and isn’t removable without tools.

The Bat Vampire and the Seekins Element both use aluminum action bodies with steel insert rings, which significantly reduces the overall action weight without adding a lot of machining steps (lightening mill cuts) and without sacrificing strength in the lockup.