Bolt hitting magazine

[ishootkittens]

So I just received my chassis today and everything looks great...except when I try to work the bolt on an empty mag. Its an XLR chassis and a AICS magazine. The bolt is catching on the plastic follower and it is BARELY catching!!! Is it the chassis or the magazine that is causing this problem. Is there a fix??

Thanks in advance.

cody

 

[FearNoWind]

When I have that problem I usually disassemble the magazine and sand off the rear of the follower piece at about 45 degrees so the bolt face slides over it and pushes it down. I have to do that with magazines for my .284 cuz F class requires loading single shot.
Don't mind the minor nicks on the top corner of the magazine. Has nothing to do with the modification - just happens when I try to load the mag into the rifle too fast ......

 

[Nimrodmar10]

You might try putting a couple of thin flat washers under you magazine bottom metal. I've noticed them under some factory guns. That should lower the magazine the thickness of the washer and let it clear the bolt.

 

[ishootkittens]

With the xlr, the bottom metal is integral with the chassis itself so I cant remove it. I guess ill try sanding the follower. Can someone find a video on how to disassemble it or give me some decent instructions. I do t wanna mess up an 80$ mag. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[skkeeter]

I file most of my mags without disassembly. No need to take it apart especially if it's barely catching. Just use a file and take off just enough to create a ramp for the bolt on the follower. This is a common issue that really isn't an issue at all.

 

[Nimrodmar10]

Is the bolt hitting the magazine when you try to chamber a round, or only when you try to close the bolt on an empty magazine? If it's only happening on an empty magazine, that could be a good thing, so you don't eject the last shell and run the bolt on an empty chamber, thinking it's loaded. If you want to close it on an empty mag, just reach in and push the shell follower down a tad and close it. If, however, it's catching when the mag is loaded, then that's a problem.

 

[FearNoWind]

... I guess ill try sanding the follower. Can someone find a video on how to disassemble it or give me some decent instructions. I do t wanna mess up an 80$ mag. ....

I'll give it a try.
I hold the magazine in a soft jaw vise to do the job. The base of the magazine slides into position, front to rear. It comes off in the opposite direction. There is a small detent in the base at the front of the magazine. That detent establishes a small raised edge on the interior of the magazine box to prevent the base from slipping off. A thin blade (I used a sharpened edge of a putty knife) slipped between the magazine base and the housing is usually enough to provide clearance for the base to slide forward and off. I sometimes have to rely on a brass punch and a little tapping on the back of the base to get it started forward. It's really pretty simple. Once you've done it and get the feel for it you'll do it in your sleep.
I use a small disk sander and hold the follower flat on the sander's adjustable table to ensure a flat, even sanded surface.

 

[ishootkittens]

Thanks to everyone who posted. Great info and instructions! I had no idea it was such a common thing. It works 100% now! Thanks again. Just out of curiosity though, any way to stop the play in the mag (left to right) the clinking noise will drive me crazy while hunting. I knew I could count on you guys.

 

[FearNoWind]

If the rattle is because of lose fitting rounds in the magazine you can tighten the magazine lips by bending them ever so gradually until you get the proper fit. But DO NOT try to do it with pliers of other tools. The magazine steel in incredibly strong and stiff and using common tools will only create an uneven lip set.
Brownells has a tool:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...ne-tools/magazine-feed-liptool-prod25049.aspx
designed especially for the job. gun)- - - - - - - - - (X)

 

[skkeeter]

Thanks to everyone who posted. Great info and instructions! I had no idea it was such a common thing. It works 100% now! Thanks again. Just out of curiosity though, any way to stop the play in the mag (left to right) the clinking noise will drive me crazy while hunting. I knew I could count on you guys.

Load up the mag with some rounds. That should tighten things up a bit.

 

[ishootkittens]

I believe the rattle is between the mag and the bottom metal. The magazine is secure when locked in place but still moves a bit which is causing the annoying rattle. It is as if the magazine needs to be fatter or the dbm needs to be skinnier.