Bulldog,

There is a difference between "back action sidelock" and "sidelock". Since Searcy only has sidelock guns on his site I assume that is what you are talking about. The head of the stock on a sidelock gun is going to be weaker than that of a boxlock. For one simple reason they have to remove more wood to inlet the plates, tumblers, sears, etc for the locks. Thus it is deffinately not as strong. However that is a relative term. "not as strong" can still be strong enough.

BB