P14 feeding problem

[Brno8x57]

My father has a P14 he purchased in the 1950's (for $12) and then had it sporterized,unfortunately. It has never fed properly when 2 or more rounds are in the magazine.
Cycling the action to extract/eject a spent case causes the rim of the round immediately below to slide up over and behind the rim of the round below it.

Then she jams. The old rifle works just fine with 1 in the chamber and 1 in the magazine. Any more in the mag and the problem arises.

Any ideas as to the cause??

 

[fleury]

.303 are rimed this his the problem

when you insert the first round make sure that it is completely at the back of the magazine and then insert the next one douing the same thing.

that might work.

 

[Brno8x57]

Thanks Fleury.
We have tried that.
Not sure if recoil is causing the rounds in the mag to move forward a bit. Wondering if the Mag spring might be weak and therefore not exerting enough upward pressure on the rounds in the mag ??
One would think with the mag follower pushing up that the rims of the rounds in the mag would stay in formation as loaded.

 

[John Sukey]

I have yet to see a weak magazine spring, though that's the first thing everyone believes is the cause.
Just a question, has the follower been modified? The bolt should not go forward on an empty magazine without depressing the follower.

Now to reach REALLY FAR OUT. I wonder if a P14 reciever could be fitted with a M1917 stock? Then the magazine box would be longer, allowing the rounds to move forward.
One never knows what could have slippped through the Weedon repair centre before WW2

 

[fleury]

the spring in mine his not that hard, but I never have anny problem so far....

That weird

 

[John Sukey]

Just a minor question and probably not relevant, but is the hunting ammo the same overall length as the military round? I assume you are using sporting ammunition instead of milsurp.

 

[Brno8x57]

I have yet to see a weak magazine spring, though that's the first thing everyone believes is the cause.
Just a question, has the follower been modified? The bolt should not go forward on an empty magazine without depressing the follower.

Now to reach REALLY FAR OUT. I wonder if a P14 reciever could be fitted with a M1917 stock? Then the magazine box would be longer, allowing the rounds to move forward.
One never knows what could have slippped through the Weedon repair centre before WW2

Not sure if the follower has been modified but its a very good suggestion.
I have seen a number of sporterized Mausers with the rear right corner of the mag follower ground off so that the bolt will travel forward with the mag empty, without depressing the follower. It may be that the gunsmith who sporterized this P14 did the same.
As far as the stock is concerned, it has been cut down and sanded/slimmed
and refinished and a recoil pad added. (Still a pretty nice piece of wood that most would be happy to have on any rifle). It has been so heavily modified there is no way to tell if it was the original stock or a replacement.

Again you have suggested another good place to look for clues if it is a M17 stock or the mag recess in the stock has been altered. Thanks.
I will bring a set of calipers next time I visit my Dad.

 

[Pblatzz]

Pictures of the follower would help. The P-14 is different than the P-17 and do not work well when interchanged.

Pete

 

[Hitzy]

Pictures of the follower would help. The P-14 is different than the P-17 and do not work well when interchanged.

Pete

And there are a couple different P14 followers as well.

 

[longbranch*]

P14

Parts may be mixed manufacture. E:Eddystone, R:Remington, W:Winchester. Most parts should be so marked. P14 parts sometimes don't interchange well. I had a Remington with mixed follower, mag/triggerguard parts that was a "jammer" until I swapped in correct parts. There is also a difference in followers and mag box between a P14 (.303) and M1917 (.30-06).
Geoff

 

[Calum]

What does the inside of the mag look like?

If it has ridges then it is the correct insert for the Pattern 14, if it does not then it is for the P17 (30.06) and you will have the issues you are having now with feeding and recoil making the rims of the cartridges overlap.

Take your mag floor plate off and you should see the 4 ridges...hopefully.

 

[cosmic]

Well - P-14s are known to be finicky. The star (*) modification was done to assist with feeding. Also, companies like BSA ground out the receiver rails to improve feed reliability.
Not sure I understand the jam phenomenon, are the rounds releasing from the guide rails prematurely, and pointing upward? Are they jamming only on one side of the mag?
Finally, P-14's benefit from rather brisk cycling of the action...

 

[Brno8x57]

Thanks to all who replied to this thread.
I was away from the computer for a bit so havent had the chance to get back to you.
I will get in touch with my Dad and go through the varoius things you guys have raised as possible causes for this problem.
Hopefully we can get it sorted. I will try to get a few pics to post.
Thanls again