Feed problem with Savage 12FV in 223

[Jay]

Hey All;

Well, until now, I have used my Savage 12FV almost exclusively at the range as a single shot and when I have hunted with it, I have never needed a second shot... So, having had this rifle for over a year now, YESTERDAY was the first time that I fully loaded the mag and attempted to cycle the rounds through the gun... (crow and coyote hunt yesterday over bait)

What I found was that the first 2 rounds out of the internal mag feed properly. But upon trying to chamber successive rounds, be they 3rd, 4th or 5th, the "ass" end of the cartridge doesn't "sit-up" high enough for the bolt to make contact and push it forward into the chamber...

Here is a pic of the problem, and it doesn't seem to matter if the round sits to the right or left in the internal mag... as you can see...

I intially noticed some surface rust on the follower spring when I bought the rifle and Savage Canada sent me another one to replace it, so I have two... I took the rifle out of it stock and switched follower/spring. SAME PROBLEM... I did notice when I compared the two, that one of the springs is about 5mm "longer/deeper" than the other...

Here is a pic of the "spare" follower...

Can ANYONE help me fix the problem or suggest what may be the problem?

Cheers and Thanks!
Jay

 

[Mystic Precision]

Weak mag spring. Follower catching on the mag walls. Bowed mag box.

Those are the most obvious places I would look.

Jerry

 

[PEI ROB]

http://www.savageshooters.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=23981

This should work for you.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Jay]

Thanks PEI Rob!

Hee is what I did...

Since I had a "spare" follower and spring, I sat around watching tv last night and messed and messed with it...

I decided that I could "sacrifice" this extra part and started bending the mag spring gently... I know, I know, I was careful and I realise that this is most likely a temporary fix...

I "squished" the lower bend and opened up the middle bend in the spring, reassembled the rifle and BINGO, problem fixed for now...

I am going to contact Savage and see if they will send me another follower and spring, hopefully there has been some improvement on this weak link...

Cheers and THANKS!
gunnutjay

 

[PEI ROB]

I never had any luck bending mag springs, maybe its just me though. Here is a pic of a new in wrap Savage follower. Its facing the other way, I took the pic in a hurry.

Cheers

 

[Jay]

Okay, I loaded the internal mag and left it for several hours this morning, checked for "function" at lunch, NO PROBLEM, it cycled fine. I reloaded it and put it aside and I will check it tonight before bed... If that works, then I may have no more problems with it...

UPDATE...
No problems 36 hours later either...

Cheers
Jay

 

[Moe]

I wish you had called me. You needed not to bend anything. I had the same problem once with my 11F. The shallow taper of the follower does not go to the rear. It goes forward though it looks like it should not.

From your pic of your follower and spring on your coffee table the end on the left side of the pic should be forward in the mag well.

Moe

 

[Jay]

Moe... The follower only goes in ONE way... There is no way to put it in 180 degree's the wrong way, it simply won't go...

Still no problem with the rifle after "adjusting" the spring...

Cheers
Jay

 

[Moe]

Ok. Well it went in backwards in my 11F. Odd I thought the two mag wells would be the same in the 11F and the 12FV.

Later