My 700 Classic in .223 Rem Barfs the Rounds out of the Mag

[RiverRider]

Actually, it's always the second-to-the-last round that misbehaves in this rifle. Sometimes it feeds it properly, but as often as not that next to last round comes flying out of the action before I can get the bolt closed. The fourth-to-last round always feeds just fine, as does the next one. But then that second-to-last round does its thing, almost as if it has a mind of its own. Anyone else ever had this issue and dealt with it successfully?

 

[FOTIS]

Magazine lips might need adjusting. Had the same problem with my 700 7mm rem mag FS.

 

[RiverRider]

Yeah, I think that's a strong possibility Pop.

I would like to understand why the fourth-from-last cartridge doesn't behave the same way, though. I am thinking maybe it has something to do with the follower spring tension (compression, actually) or the difference in tilt of the follower when there are two rounds in it, vice four rounds.

Another thing---could this possibly be addressed by taking metal off of the feed rails, if they need to be altered? It seems to me that a little metal would need to be added somewhere. Is that erroneous thinking?

 

[Bruce Mc]

Before I went to hacking on the rails, I'd get a new mag spring and follower and give it a try.

 

[RiverRider]

The rails would definitely be the LAST thing I'd mess with, Bruce.

Because the fourth-from-last round feeds from the same position as the second-to-last round, I was thinking the spring may be a little weak, or maybe needs to be bent this way or that. I messed with it some, but didn't really solve anything. I was thinking someone may have dealt with it in this way and knows the trick, if one exists. It's much better to profit by another's experience when possible, but I would have to admit I've reinvented the wheel a time or two (and the result did not always resemble a wheel).
:wink:

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I agree with you and Bruce that I'd start with the cheapest, lowest risk solution...i.e. a new spring. I've seen an M-16 barf out rounds due to a week follower spring, and considering the 4th round feeds fine, I'd give it a try. The other major cause of this problem would be with the feed lips. In theory it would be possible to take some metal off the underside to create a bigger cavity to hold the rounds....but I think I'd talk to a gunsmith before I started carving on my reciever.... :?

I think they also make a detachable magazine conversion for the 700 short action. That could be a fun solution.