Magazine Box Clearance

[Edd]

How much up/down movement should there be on a Model 700 BDL style magazine box?

I'm making sure all my parts fit correctly so I can send them off to be finished. I'm using a Wyatt center feed magazine and it has about .080" clearance between the action and the bottom metal. To me, this seems like about 5 times what it needs. I can adjust this to whatever it needs to be but I am not exactly sure how much wiggle it needs.

 

[J E Custom]

How much up/down movement should there be on a Model 700 BDL style magazine box?

I'm making sure all my parts fit correctly so I can send them off to be finished. I'm using a Wyatt center feed magazine and it has about .080" clearance between the action and the bottom metal. To me, this seems like about 5 times what it needs. I can adjust this to whatever it needs to be but I am not exactly sure how much wiggle it needs.

The mag box should be loose and not bind anywhere after the action screws are torqued.

How loose is to loose is a good question. Considering the fact that it is simply a container and a guide for the follower, spring and the cartridges, I would think yours will be fine and should have no effect on the accuracy.

The common way to reduce the clearance is to lower the action in the stock or inlet the bottom metal deeper in the stock. this occurs often after a bedding job is done and mag clearance was not addressed in the prep before bedding.

Everyone likes a good fit, but the main thing to watch for in the mag box is no binding (This can and will Effect accuracy.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[Edd]

A Wyatt center feed box has the cartridge feed lips on the magazine box. The spring, follower, and cartridges should keep the box pushed to the top but it seems like you would want a very small amount of up/down clearance to prevent the possibility of feeding issues.

My inletting is complete and the action and bottom metal set where they need to be. The magazine box fits into the bottom metal in a way that will allow me to make some small slits in the bottom of the box and form, bend outward, a couple of small tabs on each side of the box. I can then grind the length of these tabs and position my box anywhere I want it.

 

[Hairtrigger]

I have a Winchester Coyote that has all of a sudden lost it's accuracy
I have removed the mag box and shot it as a single shot and now know the mag box was binding thinking the wood has shrunk
What do I do to resolve the issue? Remove material from the box?
Shim the floor plate?

 

[J E Custom]

I have a Winchester Coyote that has all of a sudden lost it's accuracy
I have removed the mag box and shot it as a single shot and now know the mag box was binding thinking the wood has shrunk
What do I do to resolve the issue? Remove material from the box?
Shim the floor plate?

I would grind only the necessary material off the bottom of the box to clear and not bind the action
or if the action is not bedded a simple shim/washer under each action screw will suffice as long as the floor metal still fits nicely.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Edd]

My magazine now has about .020" up/down wiggle.

 

[Edd]

The amount of clearance recommended by Wyatt is .015".

 

[J E Custom]

My magazine now has about .020" up/down wiggle.

Perfect, Edd

You should be able to move the mag box slightly after the action is torqued down.

Good luck

J E CUSTOM