Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

[SquarePizza]

Rifle: Win m70 in 243 win (CDI bottom metal, inletted by CDI).

Just received my first type 1 alpha mag, and I am having some feed issues I am not sure how to correct.

The rims catch the bolt just fine, but as the bolt moves forward, approximately 3 out of 10 rounds will not angle up onto the feed ramp. Instead they just plow straight ahead and jam into the front of the mag.

Offhand I do have the overall case length, but I have plenty of room (running 90gr FMJs, so they ain't too long). This problem has not occurred with my AI mags, and seems to happen at random intervals on the alpha mag.

 

[Temp9]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

Most likely, you need to open up the front of the feed lips to make the rounds angle upwards more. Both of mine needed to be adjusted.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

I had the same issue with two Alpha mags, my solution was new AI mags. To be fair I did try to adjust the feed lips about a dozen times and even tried playing with the magazine spring but it still didn't work. You can try to adjust the feed lips but I've never had to fool with the feed lips on my AI mags. Good luck.

 

[SquarePizza]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

Both of my AI mags needed feed lip adjustments, both held the rounds too low in the mag.

I will try to open the front of the alpha mag feedlips up a little and see how she runs.

 

[LawnMM]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

I had alpha type 2 mags, they didn't feed correctly after hours of messing with the lips, my seating depth, and my sanity. I tried type 1s, same issues. I reached out to the owner who said he'd like to send me a few different mags to try, he never did.

I had mag problems cost me all kinds of time and points at last year's Hide Cup. I got back, tried an AI mag at mile high with the same ammo and it fed just fine. Never again.

AI mags or stock up on patience and frustration.

 

[SquarePizza]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

^^ heard that a lot too, but I figured that I would try alpha before passing my judgement. As is it will still be a decent plinking mag.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

My problem was different...

Type 3s and 4s, used for 284 Win.

I adjusted the fee lips every which way and got them ~95% reliable. Then I realized the 284 shoulder is further forward than the 7wsm/300wsm the mags are intended for (Alpha told me 284 would work). I ended up grinding the "ramp" for the shoulder to ride up further forward and now they're 100%.

I suggest you load up a dozen dummy rounds and spend some quality time in the man cave studying your problem. Is it really random? Or is it generally the first round? Last? Maybe first and last are the least likely?

You may need to tweak the spring to put more upward force on the front half of the follower. Or perhaps open the front half of the lips a bit to help get the upward angle going. Or both. Or maybe just more spring force overall?

Or switch to AW mags!

 

[SquarePizza]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

I ran about 40 rounds through it before I made the first post, it was pretty much random when it would jam.

Wasn't sure about playing with the feedlips since they were so much shorter than the AI ones, but after some messing around I got it to feed all but the last round decently. Only 1 or 2 jams out of 40 (mixed ball this time).

Last round kicks back into the mag, not enough spring to feed that one. But eh... technically I can only load 10 in there at a NRA range, so I don't have to worry.....


That said, I would like to get my hands on some more AI mags but cannot find any in stock. I have basically 2 months to get them into NY.

 

[OFIS]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

Are these tests done with live fire between rounds?

I've found that with recoil, the nose down jamming disappears and the mags work reliably. The same rounds in the same mag in the same rifle without firing will end up nose down if I were to try cycling the bolt through all 10.

 

[CMH]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

Anybody else have issues with both top round and the one below it trying to ride forward when the bolt is pushed forward in an Alpha mag? OP -- sorry if this is a thread hijack, but I thought it might be related to same issue you are having.

 

[SquarePizza]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

OFIS - No, just working the bolt without live fire. Thank you for mentioning that recoil might be helpful, I will take the mag out and do some shooting (been waiting for some heavy rains to break).

CMH - By all means, ask away, answers to your questions might help me out in the future too. =)


I really like the footprint of these mags, I prefer the smaller size, so I really want them to work.

 

[RTA]

Re: Trying to sort out an alpha mag feed problem

I had a couple issues with the alpha mags (.308) at start not feeding properly in badgers m5 and lumley arms dbm. After hours of trying and frustration,I stepped away. Grabbed a beer and set there pondering the problem. I reread lumleys triggerguard info about installing his dbm to work with different mags. on the market. My feeding problems were in the depth to bolt relation. Several very thin shims/washers between the action screws and stock,rear to front or none in front to several in the rear finally solved my feeding problems. The beer helped the problem alot. I'm not saying this would fix the above problems but might help somebody with similar problems. Plus one for the AI mags not having the problems.