Modify Savage Action for MDT Chassis - WSM

nksmfamjp

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Jan 5, 2004
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I have a Savage 12 action in an MDT Chassis. It uses AICS WSM magazine.

When I feed cartridges longer than 2.945" or they slide forward, the tips hang up under the feed ramp. The AICS mags will fit a 2.98" cartridge.

AICS mags get some vertical support off the action, so the whole feed ramp cannot be cut forward 0.035". If that were done, the mags would become unstable.

So, I'm thinking about cutting a notch about 0.035-0.045 x 0.3" wide to allow the bullets to feed. I'm probably just going to lay it out with Dykem blue and a scratch awl. Then cut with a dremel and clean up with needle files.

Anybody do this? Is there another way? I wonder how this will effect going back to a blind mag or another mag.

I called MDT. They were like oh yea....we made the chass for binder plate mags.....just mill the action to use non-binder plate mags. They don't offer the service or even recommend a gunsmith.

Heck, if you have a gunsmith that has done it, I'd probably pay as I don't look forward to grinding on my action with a dremel.
 
Interesting. I just checked my rifle with ai mags. The mags don't go under the feed ramp like your describing. They don't have binder plates either.

After looking at the action I wouldn't hesitate to take a little off. There's a lot of meat there. I had this same thing done to a tikka. Gun smith did it by hand and polished later.
 
I have a Savage 12 action in an MDT Chassis. It uses AICS WSM magazine.

When I feed cartridges longer than 2.945" or they slide forward, the tips hang up under the feed ramp. The AICS mags will fit a 2.98" cartridge.

AICS mags get some vertical support off the action, so the whole feed ramp cannot be cut forward 0.035". If that were done, the mags would become unstable.

So, I'm thinking about cutting a notch about 0.035-0.045 x 0.3" wide to allow the bullets to feed. I'm probably just going to lay it out with Dykem blue and a scratch awl. Then cut with a dremel and clean up with needle files.

Anybody do this? Is there another way? I wonder how this will effect going back to a blind mag or another mag.

I called MDT. They were like oh yea....we made the chass for binder plate mags.....just mill the action to use non-binder plate mags. They don't offer the service or even recommend a gunsmith.

Heck, if you have a gunsmith that has done it, I'd probably pay as I don't look forward to grinding on my action with a dremel.
Can you post some pictures to help us better understand the issue?
 
Can you post some pictures to help us better understand the issue?
Agreed.
Video would be even better of the bolt stripping a round from the mag.

Was this an action chambered as a short/fat magnum from the factory, or scratch built?
 
Ok, pictures. When the bullets shift forward in the mag, like this:
2CCDD601-6C0E-4CB6-BC50-C31B799138B3.jpg


Then when I seat the mag, the bullet is trapped.
459E128B-1B04-48EA-A7A3-265394D27D77.jpg


The bullet is trapped under the feed ramp. The correct position is:
44EF9B02-7AB0-4BB9-81D5-033E62E87711.jpg


From the bottom, you can kind of see how the feed ramp is extended into the magwel:
5BFE585C-4034-4102-B499-F4CFE96C0D1D.jpg
 
The Savage 10/11/12/16 action, is actually a medium action, where as you can load long, but there is a limit, when using a chassis, of being too long. You can remove material from the feed ramp for clearance.


Ask them to name a gunsmith to do this work....I did. The phone went silent. They suggested I do it with a dremel. I'm like do you have a dwg....uh no.

They basically have no clue. It's an after thought....like an oops to them, but they still want to sell the Chassis....so they kind of keep it on the down low
 
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