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Gunsmithing MPA Comp with Savage SA binds when feeding

antithesis

CLAPPED
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 6, 2019
505
355
West Desert, USA
Far as I can tell this is a common tune, but I am unable to solve it. Tried both PMAG and MDT AICS, both result in the bolt binding on the case before the cartridge makes it all the way in to the chamber. The PMAG's seem to slow, and the MDT AICS seems to have the opposite problem where it launches the cartridge up so the head smacks the top of the action then comes back down and binds.

This does not happen with my Deviant in a MPA Comp regardless of what mags I use, but the one for the R700 clone has the side mag entry where the Savage is bottom entry. I have tried a couple of different gaps on the MDT's but I am hoping that someone has the magic number for the Savage (other than sell the Savage - wife's rifle so that's just not happening).
 
What caliber? What does the case presentation look like when viewed from the back with the bolt out? Not an MPA, but my Savage feeds very well out of CDI bottom metal with Magpul AICS PMAGs in 243AI none the less. With the PMAG the mag the mag is just BARELY low enough that the bolt doesn't drag on the feed lips. Maybe the length of the feedlips could be adjusted to get the round to pop up sooner if it's not an issue of the case being too high/low. I'm not sure what else to tell you to help without pics or video.

This is a reach, but the only other thing I have had give me feeding issues with Savage and aics is when an ejector was nearly flush with the front edge of the bolt and the cartridge would not enter the bolt head recess smoothly.
 
6.5 CM with Berger Hybrids. It does not have any problems when in an XLR Element, only when in the MPA.

Played with it more after posting. It looks like it is feeding to the right edge of the bolt. Extraction is fine. It has an "improved" extractor and ejector. Since it looks to be riding to the right I put the stock ejector/extractor back in. I also closed the gap on the lips so the primer edge is maybe 2mm below the top of the mag. Now it gets to about 1/2" from closing before it hangs, and works fine when it only has 5 in the mag instead of 10. The hang is also not as severe - if I slam it home it will chamber, but the bolt needs to really be moving. Also, if I back the bolt off just a touch and then go in again it will finish. With the original jam there was nothing that could get it to go in other than a stupid slow forward motion, if at all.

Would definitely like it to get back to like it was with the XLR.
 
I have heard about doing that for mags that are problems going in/out. These fit, it is the cycling that sucks. Got it to where it runs so long as the bolt movement is not fast, but she does not have to turtle it. At a class this weekend and it has only stuck a few times over the first 2 days - wife's not giving me dirty looks so not bad at the moment.