Originally Posted By: Joe Wood
Bar action locks, or those with main springs ahead of the tumbler, predate back actions. For instance, flintlocks were almost always front action.


Bar Action locks only go in Bar Actions.

The Bar Action is stronger because it confines the lock springs in the action....if you've ever saw a muzzle loader with front locks that had a spring bust and destroy the wood around it's locks it would be easy to see why they evolved.