Gunsmithing Magazine Loose in Magwell

[CRT2]

Is it normal and acceptable to have a 1/4 inch up and down movement with an AICS or P-Mag in a 300 Win Mag rifle?

Also, with a 3.715 magazine, the AICS magazine can be loaded with 230 gr Berger Hybrid Targets where as the P-Mag will not accept the round. When the AICS is installed in the rifle with the 230 gr rounds loaded the magazine must be manipulated (tapped) to let each round chamber. Appears the rounds hang on feed ramp. Any recommendations on how to get the rounds to feed?

200 gr Hornady ELD X and Berger 210 gr feed without issue.

 

[Terry Cross]

Way too much vertical slop.
0.250" is a LOT.

If the magazine is feeding when pushed all the way up toward the bolt, your bolt will not even come close to picking a round up when it is in the down position against the mag latch.

If the mags are feeding while in the lowest position, you will absolutely bind your bolt if the mag is pushed upward. If the bolt is to the rear, you may not even be able to close the bolt without conflicting with the feed lips.

Whatever brand of DBM you have will have very specific dimensions for correct pinch points (Z-axis separation) between that particular bottom metal and the bottom of the receiver. Either your setup is no where close to their required dimensions or your magazine latch is (like way) out of spec too short.

Don't sweat the feed ramp / bullet tip issue until the above issue is resolved. The ramp/tip issue could even go away once the other is fixed.


./

 

[Punkur67]

Is it normal and acceptable to have a 1/4 inch up and down movement with an AICS or P-Mag in a 300 Win Mag rifle?

Also, with a 3.715 magazine, the AICS magazine can be loaded with 230 gr Berger Hybrid Targets where as the P-Mag will not accept the round. When the AICS is installed in the rifle with the 230 gr rounds loaded the magazine must be manipulated (tapped) to let each round chamber. Appears the rounds hang on feed ramp. Any recommendations on how to get the rounds to feed?

200 gr Hornady ELD X and Berger 210 gr feed without issue.

I had the same issue with my MPA chassis and AICS mags on my 300wm. There was so much slop the the mag would fall out under recoil sometimes. I got the adjustable mag catch from MPA and its run perfect since.

MPA Adjustable Mag Catch - MasterPiece Arms, Inc.

This adjustable mag catch can be added to any MPA BA, Comp, ESR, Hybrid, BA Lite, CSR or Ultralite Chassis. The use of this adjustable mag catch is for those rare occasions when the magazine height needs to be adjusted for proper feeding. Please keep in mind, that our standard mag catch will...

masterpiecearms.com

 

[CRT2]

Thanks Terry and Punkur67. The rifle is a Bergara Premier Ridgeback and I spoke to their Customer Service earlier today and was told this was normal. Just tried the magazine again. The P-Mag functioned without problems, even pulled the magazine from the bottom to cause the bolt not to pick up a round and it still fed properly. On the other hand, the AICS magazine, if held down, the bolt did not pick up a round. I have another AICS magazine coming, and will see how it works. If still issues, then will have to visit my local gunsmith for an evaluation.