feeding issues with mauser 98 .375/.338

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farshot

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I picked up a nice older custom with a shiney newer bbl on a gew 98 action with nazi markings (probably done up in the 60's or so casue it is stamped ".375 Durham" which was the popular wildcat about then).

The feed rails have had some "widening" done , but the rear of the rails are still original for about 1/2 inch. Then the opening widens to the middle of the action and then narrow back to original rail again at the front.

Problem is that, when you start with 2 rounds in the well, it feeds perfectly everytime.

When you start with 3 inthe well (the max), about 50% of the time, when you eject the first chambered round, the second will pop up and free, and therefore jam on bolt close.

Watching it closely it appears that the belt on the brass causes the shell to "pivot" upwards on the belt on the rear feed rail and then pop out easy.

Again, with only 2 in the mag, they both sit very happy, and they rest nice against the rails - it is the third round that causes something to happen.

Can changing to a heavier/ weaker , follower spring help?
what about extending the mag well for depth?

Or is this a feed rail ground down too far issue? If so -- can some rail be added back?

It is a wonderful 2 round rifle -- but since it is contolled round feed, you have to start with the shell inthe mag to load one in the chamber - so you start with 2 in the mag and end up with one in the chamber and one in the mag.

Any thoughts?
 
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What cartridge case is this wildcat based on? It's a new one on me but I've never really been a student of many wildcats.

It is often necessary to use a different follower, or a modified follower to suit the cartridge. Also, the magazine box internal dimensions may not be correct for the wildcat. There are some gunsmiths in the US who specialize in manufacturing magazine components for Mausers depending on the cartridge being used. I think Leeper or Guntech on this forum might be able to advise you or correct the problem if you contact them and they can probably source the components if required. Mauser magazines and followers are all about geometry and are quite specific to the cartridges they will function correctly with and are made in different forms to suit a range of cartridges.

Don't be too eager to start removing more metal from the rails until you are certain that is the real problem as it is a lot harder to put back and I think a lot of smiths will tell you it's easier to start with a fresh action. I'd bet that your problems start with the follower and/or magazine box.

Mauser original extractors can be slightly modified to allow drop in chambering and many will allow it if you depress the rear portion of the extractor firmly against the bolt while closing the action on the cartridge.
 
Thanks for that info on chambering with a mauser -- never heard of that before.

It is based on the .338 winchester case - simply necked up to .375.

I have no intention to remove any more metal -- I do keep wondering if the follower or spring is at issue. I did try the follower and spring from a newer 98- it did not change anything.

I wonder if it is the belt that causes the shells to lie away from the rails??
 
farshot; If the rifle started as a non-magnum action and retained the original magazine parts you are looking at width of the magazine box and incorrect follower as being problematic. If it started as a magnum and was correctly fitted with proper magazine components originally you may just need it tweaked. Possibly an adjustment to the taper of the follower.

Depressing the spring portion of the extractor causes the forward hook to lift away from the case rim and allows you to snap it down over the rim of the case as you close the bolt. It's a simple modification to alter the extractor nose to allow easy chambering and there are a lot of extractors so modified in use.
 
Get a Mauser magnum follower and try that first. If that won't correct your problem, find someone who understands the geometry of the Mauser magazine and what the dimensions need to be to actually feed properly, there is a formula. You may need to modify the box and/or the feed lips. - dan
 
The rails have been opened and not altered underneath to fit the larger cartridge. This "popping up" of magnum cartridges is a pretty common occurance in custom Mausers. Should be easy enough, although time consuming, to fix. Regards, Bill.
 
to gunpro - if I could do that I would be veryhappy, but that does not stop the pop up of the top left round when I eject number 1.

to leeper -- how do you suggest the fix?

Thanks Dan - I do think I will try that route first as the magnum followers appear to be a little flatter across the top and will support the rounds evenly. I suspect that Stocker is correct in that these rounds are too wide for the mag box and I really dont see an easy way around that. It is those belts that add almost 2 mm extra to the width of the round, never mind the width to begin with.

It is a great shooter tho....

thx alot for the help
 
To start with, I open the bottom of the magazine opening in the receiver by an amount equivalent to the difference in diameter between the standard and magnum cartridge (roughly .025 per side). At the same time, I move the step for the shoulder ahead a suitable amount. I use a 3/8" dia ball end mill (carbide). I set up to match the taper of the cartridge in question.
Then, I widen the top of the magazine box so that it matches the opening in the receiver. This is usually enough to turn the trick. Feed ramp polishing etc. might be necessary or not. Regards, Bill
 
I understand the widen the box --- would you only ned to do that from the base of the brass to say the shoulder?

I dont understand about your comments re the "step" -- could u pls expand on that part. Are yoou talking the folower there or the siden of the receiver?

As well, by widen the box at the top, do you mean to split the box somewhere to widen it or would "stretching" the top of the box suffice?

this is very helpful gentlemen - I appreciate it.
 
farshot; I believe Bill was referring to the step or shoulder that runs down the inside of the magazine box on both sides. It must be far enough forward so as not to pinch the shoulders of the longer cartridge cases towards center of the box. I believe it's purpose is to retain the cartridges to the back of the box so the bullet noses cannot get bound into the front wall by recoil effect. The under sides of the rails may have a similar area to correspond with the tops of the shoulders in the box. Perhaps he'll chime in again. You will get specific advice from him rather than the general concepts non-machinists can give you.
 
I lopoked closely at the underneath of the feeding rails and I can see what he means by step now -- I can see the trick is not to remove too much metal and make sure the angle of attack to the feeding ramp does not get hurt by the alterations.

Very interesting -- now I have a neat little bit of milling to do.

I was wondering about strength of the action when all is said and done, but I would guess it is still plenty strong after taking off a bit.
 
Just an update. I milled off the 2 little nubs that center the back of the follower and a very little of the bottom of the rear of the mag well of the receiver. I also bent out very slightly the top of the mag box. Both of these wer eonly for about an inch from the rear.

What a difference that little bit of tweaking made! I cannot get it to not feed properly now. i can load 3 in the well and slide one into the chamber by just slightly pushing that round's base slightly into the mag while sliding the bolt closed>

Thanks for all the help. It is hard for me to take metal off of anything, especially a receiver!

Once again this site helps out a lot.
 
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