P-14/BSA feeding problem

[josquin]

I have a nicely redone BSA/P14 which a prev. owner also glass-bedded and added a Timney trigger to. Nice and accurate- around 1.25" @ 100m. However, it doesn't like feeding from a full magazine (5rds.)

With Winchester 180gn Powerpoints it will feed the first round with a little grumbling, the remaining four are fine. Handloads with Woodleigh 174gn @ 3.065" will not feed the first round; it seems to hang up on the right of the receiver. The remaining four feed OK. Loaded with Remington 180 gn RN to 2.94" it is distinctly unhappy. It jams the first round and isn't to happy about the second. I have yet to try the Frontier 174 gn. FP but I expect they would be similar to the Remingtons. All these handloads are in once-fired brass, neck-sized only.

I see a pattern here: the "spitzier" the bullet the better it feeds, not surprising since the WWI military round was a spitzer. (The barrel is marked "215" bullet, though, like the original .303 ammo; a bit surprising since I think the 215 gn. load was discontinued for military use by the time the P-14 was built. And wasn't it a round nose?)

However, rounds 1 & 3 both load from the right side of the magazine, and round 3 is OK, so its this a spring pressure issue? As far as I can see, both rounds 1 & 3 seem to be at the same angle, but there could be a subtle difference which is causing the first round to hang up. The follower is pretty close to the bottom off the magazine with 5 rds. in it, but there is a little room left.

I could just load 4 rds. of Woodleigh but obviously I would like to get it to feed others reliably, if that is possible. I am also thinking of having it rechambered to .303 Epps, but that is a secondary project.

Has anyone out there had the same problem... and solved it?

Stuart

 

[hiredgun]

P14 Feeding

While I can not give advice on regular 303 feeding, my P14 Epps will only feed three rounds. I have learned that this is quite common for the Epps cartridge without mag mods. To date I have not needed three rounds but might experiment this season.

 

[cosmic]

I have a similar BSA P-14. P-14s can be finicky feeders at the best of times, particularly RN bullets. Improved feeding was the motivation for the star mod.. Not sure I understand fully the problem(s), here's some considerations:

- BSA ground the rear of the follower to stop bolt bind on an empty mag. This can affect the positioning of the follower in the mag well, or have caused the follower to be damaged. Also there is forward and rear "play" in the follower/spring/floorplate assy - try the most forward, top and bottom.

- The follower varied from manufacturer to manufacturer, perhaps the follower is incorrect.

- The extractor clearance may be a bit sloppy, or the rim spec a bit off, causing the RN rounds to angle and hit the flat breech face. I believe the star mod (extended left lug) was devised to correct this...

- Havent checked in a while, but I cant recall successfully getting 5 rounds in the mag of any of my P-14's? With 5 rounds jammed into the mag, perhaps the spring pressure causes too much friction/binding on the receiver rail. How does the rifle function with four rounds?

 

[josquin]

Thanks, folks. Looks like I need to take it to a gunsmith who is familiar with the P-14. I've never heard of the "star mod" (??) BTW, My mag. follower hasn't been ground down although I've seen that on other sporterized P-14's. I've thought of doing that to mine, as well as fitting a mag. release.

The top rounds seem to bind on the right side of the receiver opening, so it may be a spring pressure thing. I suspect the source of the problem is pretty subtle. The RN, however, jam against the ramp; not surprising given their geometry.

I won't be hunting dangerous game with this, so having the full 5 rds. isn't all that critical. I'd just like to see if it can be done.

Stuart

 

[Casull]

I have a P14 that feeds .600/.577 NE rimmed from the mag. Anything is possible to work in a P14. I didn't make this work, it was a good smith by the look of it, but I don't know the name.

 

[josquin]

I have a P14 that feeds .600/.577 NE rimmed from the mag. Anything is possible to work in a P14. I didn't make this work, it was a good smith by the look of it, but I don't know the name.

OY VEY!!! I bet you don't get 5 rounds in it, though.

 

[josquin]

Aha........ getting close to a solution! I can't believe this, but I forgot that I have a nearly original Winchester P-14 (1918 issue), so I tried loading it up with 5 rounds. Result: No problem, even the 180 gn RN. Slick as a greased doorknob.

I then took the followers out and looked at them and sure enough, the profiles were different in a number of ways. Among other things, the Win. one has a "tail" at the front to keep the follower angled with a full mag. Also, the Winchester has a slightly different receiver opening, being a bit flatter along the right side near the breech, where the BSA is slightly tapered.

I also noticed that when I loaded the BSA up with 5 rounds (of Woodleighs), it was jams the first round against the receiver because as the cartridge moves forward, it pushes the stack downwards slightly (due to the rim?) and the follower is hitting the bottom.

The two followers are not interchangeable, however. The Winchester one is slightly wider.

So... it looks like the follower is the key, so I will start looking for a Winchester-like follower to play around with, as I'd rather not start modifying the BSA one until I have a spare.

(I took photos of these parts if anyone is interested. PM me with your e-mail.)

Stuart