22lr loading problem, cartridge gets stuck in mag. Savage 3c bolt action

[bertn]

Having fun with my "new to me" vintage Savage 3C and then wtf...
won't load round into chamber.

Pulled mag and found out the top round would not slide out because the one below
had shifted forwards (due to recoil?) so the rim of the top one hooked behind the second one.
This caused the top round to angle a bit down so the bolt was pushing it tight against the
front side of the magazine instead of up on an angle into the chamber.

I figured it's an incident but shortly after same thing happened again.

In case you got lost in all the text, here is a drawing:
Left is how they go in the magazine, right is how the top one gets stuck.

Anyone experienced the same before?
Suggestions on how to fix?

Thx, Bert

 

[legi0n]

push the mag higher in the rifle

 

[bertn]

push the mag higher in the rifle

That does not work, it is high enough for the bolt to catch the top round.
The problem is that (because the top round gets angled horizontally instead of slightly upwards)
this round gets pushed stuck to the front wall of the magazine,
so no matter how hard I try to push the bolt forward it won't slide in the chamber.

 

[sgt.rock]

Time to look for a replacement magazine. They don't last forever, and the feed lips look like a retired hooker.................That looks like a standard Savage MkII 10 round magazine.

 

[bertn]

Time to look for a replacement magazine. They don't last forever, and the feed lips look like a retired hooker.................That looks like a standard Savage MkII 10 round magazine.

Don't know if it is the original magazine. It slides in and out pretty tight though.
Can anyone here with an all original pre ww2 (checkered grip and chrome lined bolt) model 3c confirm if it's the original magazine or not?

The lips look a little bit worn but not really bad.
I have never seen the lips of a retired hooker so can't compare myself

By the way, I took the magazine apart and adjusted the angle of the follower, so now the ammo is angled more upwards, hope that will do the trick.

 

[BRvalley]

the design doesn't look very different from the newer mags...could you post a pic of the feed lips looking at them vertically

I've always had to adjust the feed lips on all but 2 or 3 of my savage mags, I've experienced your symptoms before, had to tweak the lips as they were only making forward contact on the round and allowing the rear of the case to lift up a bit

 

[joe-nwt]

Replace/stretch the mag spring to provide more tension.

 

[legi0n]

I have an identical mag I think.
The metal lips that hold the cartridge head should not be parallel but rather a bit more open towards the bullet end than towards the rim.
This way the bullet side of the cartridge will be pushed a bit higher.
Spread the lips a tiny bit at a time so that the cartridge is just angled upwards but not loose.
Them lips being roundish, you can spread them by slightly flattening the round sheet metal but like I said only towards the bullet end.

 

[legi0n]

Time to look for a replacement magazine. They don't last forever, and the feed lips look like a retired hooker.................That looks like a standard Savage MkII 10 round magazine.

The MKII mag has 2 "wings" on the back
I think one such mag can be ground down to fit Bertn's rifle

vs

 

[bertn]

Thanks guys for the input!

Just got back from the range so here is the update:
mag feed issue solved!
Besides adjusting the follower angle I also stretched out the spring a bit and it's working great now.

thx again.

 

[BCRider]

I'm thinking that the inside of the mag was dirty and sticking. The only way the rims could hop over each other is if the follower got hung up and the rounds suddenly got loose then the shock of firing made the follower skip into place or something like that. Opening the mag up to do the stuff you did likely let the grit fall out or just handling the parts resulted in cleaning them enough to avoid sticking.

Just in case though check to see if the follower moves very smoothly. If you feel any catching then it needs to be fixed or it'll happen again at some point.

 

[ricksplace]

Hi.
I have the same gun. I only have 5 shot mags for it. When it fails to feed as yours does it can also be dirt around the bolt face and the extractors, which prevents the base of the cartridge from sliding up the bolt face into position. Staying at the bottom of the bolt pushes the round down into the magazine just as you describe. I have had a few of these rifles. All were tack drivers.