Help Me Troubleshoot a Mag Problem

[Phil3]

I cannot get a mag to fully insert into the bottom metal (polymer) and I am not sure why. This is a Howa barreled action in 223, fitted to a Bell & Carlson Medalist stock. I am using Howa's polymer bottom metal and polymer mag.

With the bottom metal out of the stock, the mag goes in and out fine, latching just as it should. With the polymer "metal" installed into the stock, the mag stops at the muzzle end, about 1/8 - 1/16" short of where it needs to be, to latch. The latch is on the front of the mag well. If I raise that the end of bottom metal about 1/16", the mag snaps in. Screw the bottom metal all the way down on that end, and it won't. For the life of me, I cannot see why.

I can find no marks on the mag. If you insert the bottom metal with mag in, the front part of the bottom metal stops about 1/16" shy of seating in the stock. No surprise there. I do not see any interference between the mag and action, but I need to remove the scope to see better. Still, the side I can see shows plenty of room.

I had have the rifle bedded and wonder if some bedding compound is pushing the mag well off to one side, and the mag is now hitting part of the action. Just a theory, but I am at wits end right now!

Thanks.

Phil

[ar15barrels]

It's not uncommon for cheap detachable magazine systems to need to be shimmed to work correctly due to variations in stocks.
You might also be able to shorten the latch, but it's harder to put material back on the latch than it is to add shims around the action screws.

[baih777]

If you still have your old stock.
Measure the length of action screw holes.
Then measure the B&C stock. If the action screw holes are longer. You need a gunsmith to inlet Howa DBM.

Or if your crafty. You can do your own inletting.

[LynnJr]

With the polymer "metal" installed into the stock, the mag stops at the muzzle end, about 1/8 - 1/16" short of where it needs to be, to latch.

Hey Phil
Put a couple to a few business cards under the muzzle end and see if it works.
If it does shim it or bed it so you get the same amount of distance.

[MongooseV8]

Can you fully insert a mag with the bolt open?

[Phil3]

With the polymer "metal" installed into the stock, the mag stops at the muzzle end, about 1/8 - 1/16" short of where it needs to be, to latch.

Hey Phil
Put a couple to a few business cards under the muzzle end and see if it works.
If it does shim it or bed it so you get the same amount of distance.

Hi Lynn,

I tried unscrewing the rear screw about a half turn and then the front screw a few turns, so I could pull the polymer "metal" down a bit in the front. Yep, the mag goes right in. Clearly, the bottom metal positions the mag too close to something in the action at the front end, but I cannot tell what. Or the mag is slightly too long.

A small washer will shim the bottom metal no problem (or bedding), but do wonder if it is the mag, stock, or what. I am curious... With the polymer metal pulled down a bit, it hangs out of the stock by maybe 1/32". Nothing to worry about. I may order one more mag just to be sure it is not the magazine. I could use another mag anyway.


Phil

[Phil3]

Can you fully insert a mag with the bolt open?

Good question. I tried installing the mag with bolt closed, retracted, and removed. Makes no difference. Wish I could see in there better, so may remove scope to get a better look. I am curious as to what is going on.

To the other posters, I never had an old stock. I bought the Howa as a barreled action only, so no original stock.

Phil

[sigstroker]

That magazine latches at the front. When it latches, the latch lever pivots, and maybe the part of the latch lever that's "inside" the stock is hitting the stock. If it were a wood stock you could chisel out a small relief so the latch has somewhere to go, but it might be harder if that's a fiberglass stock.

[ar15barrels]

I tried unscrewing the rear screw about a half turn and then the front screw a few turns, so I could pull the polymer "metal" down a bit in the front.
Yep, the mag goes right in.
Clearly, the bottom metal positions the mag too close to something in the action at the front end, but I cannot tell what.

Actually, the STOCK determines where the bottom metal sits.
It sounds like your STOCK is too short to move the bottom metal down where it needs to be.
Shims or bedding material are the answer.

[Phil3]

Randall,

Wanted to let you know that what you described was exactly the problem. A small thin washer under one end of the bottom metal allowed the mag to latch. I may get something slightly thicker to assure easy reliable latching, but it works pretty well right now.

Thank you.

Phil

[ar15barrels]

Randall,

Wanted to let you know that what you described was exactly the problem. A small thin washer under one end of the bottom metal allowed the mag to latch. I may get something slightly thicker to assure easy reliable latching, but it works pretty well right now.

Thank you.

Phil

Glad I could help.

The problem many people have with asking for advice on forums is that you usually have 90% of people giving bad advice and just a few posters who actually know what they are talking about.
Seek out those people who actually know what they are talking about.

People who don't know any better will average all the responses together in their mind and basically disregard the guy giving good advice because it does not follow the hive mentality...