Remington 700 .223 - quick question

[manbearpig]

i have a .223 700P and have been having issues with the follower.
the bottom of the bolt binds on the follower, causing the follower to tip forward and stick. in order to close the bolt on an empty rifle i have to push it closed till the follower sticks, then cycle it back a quarter of an inch and then push forward again to close it. its incredibly annoying and only happens with this particular 700.

im trying to figure out the problem - whether someone modified/replaced the follower, or #%@$ed with the mag box.

here is a photo of my follower:

does that look right? or should it have a small lip at the top to keep the top surface of the follower down below the bolt, like this:

thanks!

 

[manbearpig]

someone please take a look, i need to know if i should order a new follower or look elsewhere for the problem.

 

[manitou210]

I would PM Denis Sorenson I have never met him but from his posts and recomendations as a top notch smith, I would think he could help you.
We are lucky to have him on this site
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/member.php?u=19158

 

[manbearpig]

thanks, PM sent.

 

[guntech]

Thanks for the kind words... this has me puzzled at the moment... I don't have a .223 700 in the shop to check against and the parts book doesn't have good pictures.. if I come up with something, I'll post it...

There must be someone with a factory 700BDL in .223 out there...

 

[manbearpig]

There must be someone with a factory 700BDL in .223 out there...

youd think

thanks guntech, ill wait on ordering new parts then. i was going to just order a new follower and mag box from brownells but ill hold off till someone confirms either way.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

is it sticking on the follower? or the little chunk of plastic in the mag box to compensate for the shorter 223?
is the spring bent? it looks like it from the picture....

 

[manbearpig]

bottom one isnt my rifle, the top one is. the bottom photo is actually of a model 700 .308 follower that has been modified for 6PPC, but illustrates the little 'lip' on the top of the follower that keeps it below the bolt.
the block at the back of the mag box is actually metal.

basically this is what happens:

when closing the bolt on an empty mag (or when single feeding) the bolt hits the back of the follower, tipping it backward and wedging the front edge of the follower into the tiny gap between the mag box and the receiver. in order to close the bolt on an empty mag i have to push it closed till it binds like this, then pull the bolt back 1/4" and then push forward again. its incredibly annoying.

so basically i need someone to look at Pic #1 and tell me if that looks like their remington 700 .223 follower, or not. if not i can order a new one, if it does then the problem is elsewhere.
IMO the bolt should glide over the mag when the rifle is empty without even touching the follower (like it does on my other 700s), but i dont have another one in .223 to check right now.

 

[manbearpig]

here is a photo.

as you can see, instead of riding over the follower the bolt gets stuck on it and the follower wedges forward. on all my other model 700s the bolt just smoothly rides over the follower.

 

[Big Guy]

Here's mine its a .223 BDL, it looks just like yours.

 

[manbearpig]

thanks big guy,

what happens to the follower when your bolt hits it on an empty mag?
does it move straight down, tip like mine, or does the bolt just pass over it without hitting it?

 

[Big Guy]

When the bolt is moved forward , it contacts the follower, the follower moves forward about 1/4 of an inch, then it is pushed downward as the bolt continues over it.

 

[Duck_Hunter]

Is it possible that the follower is catching on a sharp lip on the bottom of the action, therefore not alowing it to lower and let the bolt slide smoothly over the follower?

 

[manbearpig]

Is it possible that the follower is catching on a sharp lip on the bottom of the action, therefore not alowing it to lower and let the bolt slide smoothly over the follower?

as it tips and swings forward the front edge of the follower wedges into the tiny space between the mag box and the receiver.

im going to try moving the follower spring back on the floorplate as was suggested by someone, if that doesnt work perhaps ill try beveling the upper edge of the mag box so theres nothing for the follower to catch on.

all in all a very frustrating problem, and a poor design on remingtons part IMO. i have no problems with any other 700s i own, just this particular .223 with the short action & blocked magazine. IMO the follower should ideally move up and down like its on rails, not tip and sway all over the place.

 

[ARWEN ACE]

Check the bottom edge of the bolt to make sure it is not sharp, thereby digging in to the follower instead of gliding over it.

 

[manbearpig]

fixed it.

the magazine spring on the short action +blocked magazine .223 is about 1" shorter than the slot for the spring on the floorplate. from the factory the mag spring is pushed all the way forward, with a little steel tab blocking it from sliding back.
i removed this steel tab, moved the mag spring back to approx. the midpoint on the floorplate, and it cycles perfectly.

i was going to put two small dabs of JB Weld to hold the spring in place, but im rethinking that and i think it would be better to fabricate a couple small metal or plastic tabs to hold it in place. JB weld is rather permanent and i dont want to bubba up my floorplate.

it cycles flawlessly now. i also radiused the front edge of the magazine box, which helped the follower slide down more smoothly and also should cut down on any scratching of brass/bullets.

thank you all for your help and suggestions

 

[kell2784]

That's good to know. Mine did that once in awhile, which was quite annoying.
It wasn't frequent though.