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AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

dddoo7

dddoo7

Senior Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 18, 2011
1,027
108
Memphis, TN
I currently have a R-700 sps-v in an aics stock. The gun shoots great as long as the rounds are loaded out to 2.950". At that length, they will not fit in the original AICS mag and they won't feed past the feedramp either. I have purchased an Alpha Type 2, and the rounds fit wonderfully in the mag, yet they still won't feed due to the feedramp. I am planning on having my feedramp modified so it will feed, but I had a few questions first which I am having trouble finding the answers to. I eventually want to purchase a custom action (bat or surgeon 591) that will go into this AICS stock. At that point, I want to put the r-700 back into the original stock and sell it to fund the new build. If I notch the feedramp, will the r-700 feed properly when I put it back into the original tupperware stock with the original bottom metal?
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Have you tried adjusting the magazine feed lips so the rounds are presented in a more nose up position? That usually solves most feeding issues.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

I have seen that situation several times and know what you are talking about, but the feed lips are not keeping the bullets from feeding in this case. If I load the rounds to 2.800" OAL, they feed flawlessly (actually better than the factory bottom metal did). The issue is that the bullet (at 2.950" OAL) is so long that the very tip of the bullet is hanging on the feedramp. The feedramp on the action does not allow the bullet to point up-- not the mag lips.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

I'm not sure why adjusting the feeds lips to allow the HP to engage the ramp a little higher up wouldn't help. If the tip is hitting the vertical flat underneath the ramp a more up nose position would help that also. As the bullet tip rides up the ramp the round has to pivot under the feed lips essentialy compressing the magazine until it clears the feed lips. The longer the round the more compression. Are you getting this wedge effect? Full mag or partially full?
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

IMG_0356.jpg


IMG_0484-2.jpg


The top gun is not mine, but it is a pic of one that is doing the same as mine. I could not get good pic of mine. The bottom pic shows the problem. The aics magwell is made longer than the factory magwell to allow longer OAL cartridges. It would have to be a very steep angle in order for the rounds to clear the feedramp. I have seen several different people who had the same problem and notched the feedramp to allow the longer rounds to clear.

I had to push the back of the round down into the mag over a 1/2" in order for the nose of the bullet to clear the feedramp. I don't have any issue with my sub rounds. They are loaded to the same o-give length, but they are round nose bullets and therefore shorter OAL.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

That's what I thought. I'd still start with adjusting the feed lips to present the round a little higher on the nose. May solve your problem. I'd then, if needed, chamfer the edge of the ramp eliminating most of the vertical section directly in front of the point. Do not remove any more than you have to. The bottom lug is the weakest in the action. You're not likely to ever get in trouble but!! Are the mags tight up against the actions?
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Mags seem to be fairly tight. When they are loaded, I have to bump them to get them to catch.

I am not planning to do the modification myself. I will let my gunsmith work on it. I will let him check the mags as well to see if there is an issue there. If I do have it modified, will it still feed rounds properly in the original stock with original bottom metal?
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

As vman said it will feed fine. A minute with a dremel tool and touch it up with cold blue some oil and you'll be good to go.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

well, you make it sound simple. I might just give it a shot. I guess if I just go a little at a time checking every little bit I won't go too wrong.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

You're welcome. It is pretty simple. I carry a tool to change the feed lips just about everywhere I go. Brownells sells one made by H S Precision. The grinding part is pretty simple also.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Well, My R-700 will now feed properly in the AICS with very long rounds out of a type II mag. I have not shot it yet, but I made up some dummies and they fed well. I followed your recommendation. I adjusted the feed lips to point the rounds slightly up and then also notched the bottom of the action. Like you said, it wasn't too hard and saved the cost of a gunsmith!
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

I've just come on board looking for this exact issue and resolve. I fell by the wayside this weekend when the AI magazines failed to latch do to the top shell moving forward during reloading and kept the mag from seating because the bullet point hung up on the lower receiver you have "pictured" as I did not do any relieving of this area, BUT AM ABOUT TO. My R700 has the upper relieved for the bullet point in 40x clipper strip configuration, and I am about ready to radius out the lower to match the top, or to clear shells that have moved forward this small amount.

Your bottom picture is exactely where I want to relieve my action for the bullet point at the bottom (as your picture shows). Its such a nice picture, can you retake after your relieving or notching of this area??

Thanks
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

This is the view from the top
notch2.jpg


This is the bottom view

notch1.jpg


This is my high-tech tool that I used to accomplish this task

notch3.jpg


The notch was a little wider than I originally hoped, but with the double stack alpha mag it had to be. Every other round was hanging because it was coming slightly from the side. That is also why it is lop-sided. I would guess that with single stack aics mags, a smaller notch would work. Also, if you are using standard aics mags or alpha type 1 mags, the notch won't need to be nearly as deep because they have an insert in the front to block the rounds. I know the machine work is not pretty, and I still need to get some cold blue on it, but under normal circumstances it won't show and it works. I recommend finding something to stick in place of your bolt while you are notching. otherwise metal particles will get all down in your action and bore. It took me a while to get them all out after the first try-- second try I rolled up paper towel and stuck in there so I could clean up easier.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Great Pix; especially showing the feed ramp angle. I am sure (especially after seeing the modification pix from Alpha mag site) that I am on the right track to solve my problem (which really is "if the loaded mag makes it into the magazine well, it darn sure better make it all the way into the breech area").

I'll try to get some before and after pictures when I do my Remington.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Finished with my installation and this did fix my issue as described. I tryed before and the mag failed to latch every time I slightly moved the top shell forward in the magazine (which was easy to do, even grasping when picking up the mag).

154558_2689943426684_1799444376_1623465_1337413336_n.jpg


305660_2689945466735_1799444376_1623468_432357075_n.jpg

After relieving the area, no failures. Even when the shells were extremely moved forward, if I could get 'em in the magazine well, (some of the feeds moved the cartridge back far enough to enter the well), they were good all the way and latched firmly, in line with the chamber with good contact on the feedramp.
529977_2689947346782_1799444376_1623470_751869924_n.jpg


156452_2689953906946_1799444376_1623472_1727358477_n.jpg
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

Fired it a couple of weeks ago, went flawless and no issues. I don't know why Badger Ordnance doesn't have it in the install instructions.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

yeah-- I was worried about doing it myself, but it was really fairly painless. Seems like they would drop a note in with the badger bottom metal and the AICS stock. Oh well. everything is working now.
 
Re: AICS and Alpha Mags Compatibility

This is good info for you guys having problems. I'm not sure if there's any issues with tacking threads? However, this would be a good one for guys to reference as a DIY guide...especially w/the pictures - you know pictures speak a 1,000 words!

AvsFan
cool.gif
 
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