Stewart Rifles GTLS Recoil Lug Alignment Tool

For anyone obsessed with precision when you have bedded or rebarreled an action with a removable recoil lug, you already know: a perfectly aligned recoil lug is not optional—it’s foundational. A misaligned lug can affect the long-term stability of your bedding job. And while many gunsmiths rely on fixed alignment methods, Stewart Rifles has created a purpose-built solution that simplifies the process while improving precision.

Enter the Stewart Rifles GTLS Recoil Lug Alignment Tool—a deceptively simple jig that ensures your recoil lug is perfectly centered, and indexed prior to bedding or barrel installation.

What Exactly Does a Recoil Lug Alignment Tool Do?

The recoil lug is the interface between the action and the stock/chassis that transfers recoil energy. When it’s misaligned too much, the action may not sit flat, accuracy can suffer, and the bedding material could crack upon removal or while reinstalling the action.

The Stewart Rifles tool:

  • Keeps the recoil lug perfectly centered during bedding
  • Maintains repeatable alignment when reinstalling an action
  • Allows the lug to be locked into place to the action during barrel removal and installation

Instead of trying to eyeball it or relying on tape, shims, (or worse yet, a hammer) and a wish, this tool allows builders to lock the lug exactly where it needs to be—every single time.

Why Stewart Rifles Designed It

Gunsmiths know that some non-pinned factory recoil lugs aren’t perfectly machined, and even some high-end aftermarket actions can shift slightly during barrel installation. Stewart Rifles developed their alignment tool to:

  • Reduce barrel install time and frustration
  • Eliminate alignment guesswork
  • Help obsessed gunsmiths get first-try alignment
  • Prevent re-bedding after new barrel installs

Key Features of the Stewart Rifles Recoil Lug Alignment Tool

1. Precision-Machined Construction

Made here in Oklahoma, from durable steel, the tool is built to maintain exact tolerances for years.

2. Compatible With Most Common Actions

Whether you’re working with a Remington 700 clone, or many popular custom actions, Stewart’s alignment tool is designed for broad compatibility. Accommodates recoil lugs up to 1.295” width.

3. Simple, Foolproof Operation

One of the tool’s strongest points is how intuitive it is.

Slide it on → lock it down → square it up → install the barrel

It’s that simple.

This works in reverse as well to ensure the lug is held in the same place all through the rebarreling process.

4. Perfectly Indexed Geometry

The adjustable side screws ensure the lug can’t twist, tilt, or wander—a common issue when installing barrels.

5. Designed by Real Gunsmiths

This isn’t a gadget built by a marketing department. It’s a simple shop tool refined through experience and used on rifles to win matches and fill freezer space.

Why Proper Lug Alignment Matters So Much

Even small misalignments can cause:

  • Stress on the action screws
  • Uneven bedding contact
  • POI (point of impact) shift

The recoil lug is a tiny part doing a massive job. Treat it like the precision component it is.

Is This Tool Worth It?

If you’re a professional gunsmith or someone who beds or rebarrels more than one rifle a year—the answer is absolutely yes.

You’ll save time, reduce risk of bedding failures, eliminate alignment headache, and end up with better-performing rifles.

For a one-off hobby build, it’s a luxury. For repeat builders, it’s a game-changer.

Final Thoughts

The Stewart Rifles Recoil Lug Alignment Tool is a perfect example of a smart, practical innovation: not flashy, not complicated, but highly effective. It solves a real problem that most gunsmiths have encountered at some point.

In precision rifle building, the small details are the big details—and this tool helps get one of those details exactly right.

If your goal is tighter groups, repeatable bedding, and professional-grade alignment, this tool deserves a place on your bench.