The recoil lug is against the face of the action. The nut then settles against the lug. If the barrel is turned so as to not use a nut, as you describe, the shoulder is turned so it indexes against the lug, not the action. Same for Remington and all bolt rifles, actually. (or so I believe).
Put another way: the order of assembly is: 1. action, 2. lug, 3. nut or shoulder on barrel
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