Daryl, you are right. The post isn't about NE actions, but I thought the questions were interesting since the original thread asked about actions in regards to their strengths. Sorry to head Off Topic here.

As for BP loads in a "cheap" shotgun, I'd be a little more concerned about the stocking up on the gun, weight and quality of fitting {to avoid cracking under heavy recoil}. Pretty much any good-condition, smokeless shotgun ACTION seems appropriate for BP RB shotgun loads, yes?

And yes, the Stoeger's are cheap and fairly common unless the Cowboy Action crowd has sucked them all up in a particular neck of the woods.

500, as for why people go for the Baikals, or at least mention them, I think, is twofold. YES cheap, but really, they are the only dirt-cheap DR action floating about. I suppose most folks think that if the gun is built to handle .30-06 factory {or other modern rifle cartridge} loads it can take "X" NE round. As I understand it, however, the backthrust is NOT the same as the case size increases, meaning that a heavy, say, .577 NE load, even at somewhat lower pressure than a .30-06, is going to produce more backthrust, flex and stress on the action. Correct?