Remington Semi-Auto rifle mag fix

[Northman999]

I've had a rem 742 in .308 win for a couple of years, and it runs like a clockwork and is a great little rifle. After hearing all the "jammomatic" stuff about 742's, I was starting to wonder if the wasn't more bad rap than anything.

So recently I traded for another 742 in 30-06. It came with who mags, and I had jamming problems right away. I immediately felt it was a mag issue, as the factory mags were very easily knocked out of place on this rifle, typically with the front of the mag falling 1/4" downwards, causing cartridges to jam into the front of the mag well while feeding.

I grabbed my ubiquitous JB Weld and set about to build up the front tab on a mag, which seemed to be the problem.

Here's the finished product, beside a factory mag.

Here's a factory mag going into the mag well - notice lots of free space to move around...

Here's a modified mag going in - nice and form fitted with no room for sloppiness...

Final shaping of the hardened JB weld was done with a dremel and small file.

The modified mag fits snugly (not tightly) straight up into the mag well, and is basically impossible to displace from it's proper position, once installed. Mag release and all rifle functions still work 100%. Notice how much JB Weld build up was needed to accomplish this - my front tab is about four times the size of the factory one.

Now I know mag problems plague Remington autoloader owners, and so I hope this helps someone else. It's a cheap overnight fix that anyone can do themselves. Enjoy!

 

[crashcollins]

My buddy had a Model four 3006 that was a jammer no matter what it was fed. I screwed with it for months including trying brand new mags with no luck. This fix is interesting and I wish I could try it ; unfortunately he sold the rifle because of the jamming. Thanks for the info though I will keep it in mind to try if I run into the problem again.

 

[Camp Cook]

Interesting fix...

What are the odds of breaking the JB Weld off of the mag though?

 

[Brad34340]

Interesting fix...

What are the odds of breaking the JB Weld off of the mag though?

I thought about that too .... but the all the guys that done 10 22 trigger/ sear mods with the stuff don't seem to be reporting problems.

Interesting fix.

I've talked to guys with old Savage 99's and after market mags that will not feed (particularly round nose bullets) .... and there doesn't seem to be any really obvious reason as to why .... maybe this is something they should look at? ... thanks for sharing regardless.

 

[Northman999]

Interesting fix...

What are the odds of breaking the JB Weld off of the mag though?

In my experience, it holds pretty darn well if the area you apply it to was degreased and roughened.

This fix was partially just to prove the concept as well.

If a guy was inclined, he could do the same thing I did with a small wire welder and form the tab from the metal weld afterwards with file and dremel as I did.

 

[Camp Cook]

I was just thinking if you drilled a couple small holes into the mag before putting the JB Weld on that it would hold even better.

 

[Northman999]

I was just thinking if you drilled a couple small holes into the mag before putting the JB Weld on that it would hold even better.

Yes most likely it would. Just like a you do when bedding an action with this same stuff. A fellow would have to depress the follower and put some masking tape inside the wall of the mag to keep the JB from running into the mag, but it would surely result in a stronger job.

 

[Dosing]

Bizarre. By making the forward lip that wide there is no way it will now engage the recess for the forward mag lip. This simply leaves it to be wedged in place, and the rear mag catch to hold it there. Why not just clean the forward mag detent above the barrel retaining bolt, and if needed pry the mag tab out a little more. By shoving your mag back you will simply be increasing the tension on the mag release catch. Why not just try shoving the mag forward if there is a percieved fit issue?

 

[Northman999]

Bizarre. By making the forward lip that wide there is no way it will now engage the recess for the forward mag lip. This simply leaves it to be wedged in place, and the rear mag catch to hold it there. Why not just clean the forward mag detent above the barrel retaining bolt, and if needed pry the mag tab out a little more. By shoving your mag back you will simply be increasing the tension on the mag release catch. Why not just try shoving the mag forward if there is a percieved fit issue?

That was my original line of thinking. However, bending the mag lip forward necesarily also impacts the general shape of the rest of the mag (narrows it as the metal is pulled forward) and it interferes with the follower working smoothly. Also, it does not do anything substantial to stabilize the generally flopsy fit of the mags in the mag well. When I first started with the JB Weld, my plan was just to build up the factory tab, to the same affect as you suggest, but I found that form fitting a much larger area worked far better.