Savage 64 issues...

STR8 Shot

STR8 Shot

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Super GunNutz
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Somewhere in Ontario
It was the first time taking out the 64 last weekend, I had a few issues that arose and was wondering if it might just be the ammo being used.

When a mag is loaded to its full capacity(10 rounds) it jams up trying to chamber a round, the round does not want to leave the mag. If I load the mag to eight rounds they chamber without a problem.

The other issue is chambering during a mag dump, take two shots and the next one is "click" - no round in chamber. Pull the bolt back, release, and the round is chambered.

I'm using the Winchester XL 555 - in the 500 round box.
 
Some of those autoloaders can be finicky with the ammo, so try switching to a different brand. With the mag completely full, is there any vertical movement possible with the rounds (you should be able to push the rounds down a tiny bit)? If the top round is jammed in there too tight, that might be why the rifle can't strip it from the magazine. One of my magazines is so tight with ten rounds that it has trouble stripping the top round, so I can only load nine in that one. As far as the mag dump issue, I've never experienced that problem, so I don't know what might cause that.
 
Sounds like it's a lot of "new gun" issues. Everything will be tight, this includes the magazine and the action. Try only running the magazine with 7-8 rounds in it for a couple hundred rounds, then give it a full load. Also, completely strip and clean the innards of that rifle. Do not oil it up when you re-assemble it. The Model 64's like to be run on the dry side. Put just a drop of oil on the bolt, don't oil up the receiver. They have a tendency to collect a lot of grit if you oil them up.

I've got an old Lakefield model 64 and it definitely likes to run dry. When it gets dirty it experiences the same issues you're describing with failing to chamber the next round.
 
Thanks for the info, will try some different ammo.

I did disassemble clean/lube everything when I first got it, will try a little less oil this time 'round.

I did smooth out the loading ramp on the mag with a file, it didn't seem to help much.

I also have two mags strapped to each other, could the added weight pull down on the mag causing the feeding issue?
 
This is very common with the 64's....my cooey's and lakefields all did the same thing. Its a magazine issue. If you are using hollowpoint ammo, you'll get this issue more often then if you use solids. Cheaper bulk ammo tends to cause more grief then using better quality ammo like cci stingers. I also noticed that the jams occured when the mag was loaded beyond 8rounds. What you'll see is the bullet will hang up on the magazine feed ramp. When the bolt cycle forward, it catches the rim of the cartridge and forces the bullet head down. The bullte head will then hit the ramp on the mag, and cause the jam. Slightly changing the angle of the feed ramp with a small round file will definately help. But as the guns wears in, the mags will function better. If you manually cycle the gun, have a look at the ejected cartridge. You may see that the bullet head will have rub marks on it. If it does, it's because its rubbing on its way into the chamber. If you're using good quality ammo, the extra kick you'll get from the rounds will generate enough inertia to chamber the round. If you use the cheap bulk stuff, you'll notice the opposite will happen.

FYI, the mags can be opened from the bottom by removing the slide in plate with a flat screw driver. Taking it apart will help if you file the mag. Also, try this experiment...take 10 rounds of .22's and sharpen the heads of the bullet to a point, and load the mag with all ten rounds. If they cycle fine, you'll know the mag is the issue.
 
Those are my exact issues, I am using the hollow point and did notice that the head of the round does tilt down and jam up in the ramp area.

Everything mentioned is my exact issue, thanks for the insight.
 
Thanks to all for the input.....I have fixed the problem (I believe).

I filed the profile of the feed ramp in both mags, filled them to capacity(10 rounds), and was able to manually strip the rounds with no hang ups in the ramp area.

The only other issue is the un chambered round during a mag dump. That is likely the sh¡tty ammunition being used though. Once better quality ammo becomes available I will see.
 
STR8 Shot said:
Thanks to all for the input.....I have fixed the problem (I believe).

I filed the profile of the feed ramp in both mags, filled them to capacity(10 rounds), and was able to manually strip the rounds with no hang ups in the ramp area.

The only other issue is the un chambered round during a mag dump. That is likely the sh¡tty ammunition being used though. Once better quality ammo becomes available I will see.
Click to expand...

No issues with Federal, Winchester or Blazer bulk from mine. But it's also old and has a lot of rounds through it now. Maybe try some 'hotter' rounds if you can find any.
 
I had similar issues with mine when using Winchester hollow points, it did not want to feed properly. For the most part I only ever use CCI Blazer and never had any issue whatsoever with that ammo in the 64. The few times I tried CCI hollow points I had no feeding issues either.
 
All semi-auto .22's require trying a box of as many brands as you can top find the ammo the rifle will both shoot well and cycle the action. Applies to the hyper-velocity stuff(like Stingers) even more. My Cooey shoots Remington Yellow Jackets well, but that doesn't mean your Savage or another Cooey will.
HP's make no difference. If a mag won't feed 'em it's not necessarily the mag. Mind you, mine came with steel mags(long ago) not plastic.
 
I adore the 64's, but they can be finicky. Most of the problems I've encountered were solved by:
-Run round nosed ammo (Mine love CCI Blasers, and Federal Champions, but hate Winchester...other CGN'ers have positive reports on Winchester so try a few brands)
-Clean them well, and often. Take it right down every 500-1000rds. Do not lubricate the bolt. Run that gem dry.

I dunno what a magazine dump is, so no insights into solutions...sorry.
 
I've found 64 mags to be hit or miss. Worse comes to worse, pick up another mag and see if it resolves your issues.
The mag that came with my new 64 was a piece of ####. After dicking around with it and not being able to fix it, I bought a new mag and the rifle ran like a top.
 
Both my 64s REALLY like round nosed solid ammo and HATE hollowpoints. That bit of a flat tip catches the feed ramp....also, try using dry graphite "lube" instead of oil. It wont attract and hold residues.
 
Camster: The magazine dump, as I would call it, is loading the mag to full capacity and then just dumping the lead down the barrel.

I'm not saying 10, 10 round clip magazine in a second either rofl, but just the act of clearing a mag by way of pulling trigger.
 
My Lakefield I had would not fire YellowJackets. It would jam up and the lead almost came right out of the casing every time. I as well had to fine tune the magazine. I like all of you found out that I had to run almost NO oil on the bolt. One small drop is all I ever put on it.

It fired stingers fine though. Never had any issues there.
 
Um, yeah......so I think I messed up my magazines. The rounds strip off nicely, but they jam up into the top of the breech-just above the hole of the chamber. It does this for the first 4 or 5 rounds and after that it usually cycles fine. I think I may need new mags.


Edit: I may have filed I little too much in the feed ramp of the magazine.
 
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