Magazine Denting Brass

[Windstone52]

I recently got a Savage 110 precision in 338 Lapua. I took it to the range last weekend to test fire it and noticed that the cases in the magazine are all being dented under recoil. The rounds were pristine while I was loading the magazine, so I know that they weren’t already dented. When a round is fired, the rounds that are still in the magazine are being dented on either side of the shoulder by the ribs that run down each side of the magazine. Is this normal with AICS style magazines, or is this a defect in the magazine?


This is the factory Savage/MDT magazine that came with the gun and is not aftermarket. This is my first real venture into long range, but I would think this would have a bad effect on both brass life and accuracy.

 

[camocorvette]

Pictures would definitely help if you can.

 

[Windstone52]

There is an identical dent on the opposite side. These dents correspond exactly with where the shoulder contacts the ribs in the magazine and are repeated across multiple rounds.

 

[shoots100]

I'm speculating that you were sent a magazine made for a different cartridge with your 338 lapua rifle.
I owned and have several friends with that rifle chambered in 338 and have never seen that issue.

SJC

 

[whatsupdoc]

Post pictures of the magazine from the top empty and with rounds in the mag

 

[Windstone52]

I'm speculating that you were sent a magazine made for a different cartridge with your 338 lapua rifle.
I owned and have several friends with that rifle chambered in 338 and have never seen that issue.

SJC

The magazine is stamped 338 LM, so while it may be defective or out of spec, it is the right one. I am glad to hear though that this isn't the norm since that would be a bit annoying.

Here are the requested pics.

 

[shoots100]

Is the magazine semi crushed, so the side ribs are hitting the area of the brass that's being dented when the rounds are inserted into it ?
Is it hard to insert more than two rounds into the magazine ?
I would send the pics to savage CS and see what they say and/or buy another 338 magazine to compare it to.

SJC

 

[Windstone52]

Is the magazine semi crushed, so the side ribs are hitting the area of the brass that's being dented when the rounds are inserted into it ?
Is it hard to insert more than two rounds into the magazine ?
I would send the pics to savage CS and see what they say and/or buy another 338 magazine to compare it to.

SJC

There is no apparent damage whatsoever, the magazine loads and unloads perfectly. The picture above is with it fully loaded with 5 rounds. The only way you know something is wrong is by firing a round and then looking at the remaining rounds in the mag. The rounds also do not show any damage from just being loaded and cycled through the gun without firing, so they’re not being dented during the feeding process.

 

[camocorvette]

So under recoil is when they are denting? That's weird as shit. I wish I had an answer for you

 

[Windstone52]

So under recoil is when they are denting?

Exactly.


I’ve never seen another mag for this model to compare to. But the gap in front of the follower in my mag seems excessively large, it allows the follower to slide forwards and backwards about a quarter of an inch with nearly zero resistance (that's an estimate I haven't actually measured the gap). I'm wondering if they may have accidentally used a follower from a shorter magazine, therefore allowing the follower (and all the rounds in the magazine) to slide forwards under recoil. If those of you who have actually owned this gun could look at the empty mag pic and tell me if the space in front of the follower seems unusually large that would be great.

Regardless I will soon be getting a new magazine to compare with.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Those little tabs toward the front look suspicious. If you load a few cartridges into the mag and then push the top one forward does the shoulder hit one of those tabs?

 

[Windstone52]

Those little tabs toward the front look suspicious. If you load a few cartridges into the mag and then push the top one forward does the shoulder hit one of those tabs?

Nope, they barely touch the tabs with the magazine out of the gun and I think they clear them completely with it in the gun. They also touch the tabs in the wrong place on the shoulder so that isn't it.

 

[Bergara HMR]

Weird for sure. I would for sure contact Savage. OK if you have a full magazine & you fire one round, are all the rounds now damaged or is it just the one waiting to be chambered??
Could it be the bolt when you are pulling the bolt back to eject round 1, could it be hitting round 2 because the rounds are sitting to high??
My son has a SAKO S20 6.5 creedmoor with a 5 round mag. He finds with 5 rounds he has loading issues due to the bolt fouling on the 1st rounds. Four rounds put into the mag, no issues at all.