Topping off A CRF rifle...How I do it.

03 November 2006, 23:08

I have moved this sub-discussion to become one of its own due to the educational value for some who are new to CRF rifles, or think that only by modifying the extractor can a CRF rifle be topped off.

To load my rifle I fill the Magazine with 3 rounds, then holding down the top round I slide the bolt forward till it rides over the base of the first round in the magazine. Then I place the base of the up the spout round to approx. the forward 1/3rd of the Magazine box and depress it down into the magazine enough so the extractor rides over the base (As a Mauser was designed) and engages the extractor cut on the shell I am placing in the chamber as I slowly slide the bolt forward to chamber the round. Now I have the Round under control and I just chamber as normal.

Give it a try and after you get the hang of it on your CRF rifle you will find it quick and easy to do. It also avoids the need to bevel or weaken the Extractor to snap over the rim. A lot of Mag box /Cartridge combos have enough tolerance in them to allow this manuver.

BTW: this was shown to me by my Father (now dead) who was raised in South Africa, and hunted Africa game during the Golden era of Arican hunting.

03 November 2006, 23:58

Hog Killer

With my Rem. 30S, 458 Lott. I load three down, place the forth centered on top, press down, and close the bolt.

Hog Killer

04 November 2006, 04:03

Fjold

On my M70 (375 H&H) I just push 4 into the magazine and close the bolt. The fourth one goes 99% of the way but if you try to close the bolt over it, the bolt drags on the case.

I have an extra magazine follower that I was going to try to shave 1/16" to see if I can get the bolt to close over 4 rounds easily but I haven't gotten to that project yet.

04 November 2006, 05:42

ElCaballero

I fill the mag then remove the bolt, place a round in the extractor and hold the rounds in the mag down while replacing the loaded bolt and driving it home.

04 November 2006, 06:47

GaryVA

I have a few CRF rifles that have enough extra space when the magazine is at capacity that I can insert the chamber (+) plus round on top and push it down as if it is going in the mag box. The extra round cannot be pushed down far enough to fully go in the box but it goes in far enough to push the bolt forward slightly to clear the cartridge head. At this point just let the cartridge go and it pops behing the claw extractor.

I have others that have no extra space in the mag box when it is full and therefore I'm unable to push the extra round down at all, no matter how far forward it is. On these, I push feed the extra round just far enough to squeeze/flex the extractor to go over the cartridge head.

Lastly, I think at least three out of the above CRF rifles have the extractors modified so they can be pushed over a chambered round. I save this for limited use as I fear it will prematurely wear out the extractor and/or change the tension.

GVA

04 November 2006, 17:37

Tailgunner

Fill the mag
Drop one into the chamber
Hold the top mag round down and run the bolt forward
Squeeze the extractor bow into the bolt body (this lifts the claw to clear the case rim), and finish closing the bolt.

04 November 2006, 17:55

jnd

On my cz550 (375H&H) i just load the mag with 6 rounds close the bolt. Now i have 5 + 1 in my little gun

04 November 2006, 18:26

ROSCOE

why not just open the floor plate and add the final round there?

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R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."
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We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?'

04 November 2006, 19:02

Jim Kobe

Why don't you borrow someone's CRF and try it? You will soon learn why.

04 November 2006, 19:13

ROSCOE

OK...I just did...and it seems to work fine in the two rifles I used. One a MRC and one a Dakota 76. Am I missing something Jim? What happens when you try?

04 November 2006, 19:29

ramrod340

quote:
OK...I just did...and it seems to work fine in the two rifles I used. One a MRC and one a Dakota 76. Am I missing something Jim? What happens when you try?

Hmmm When you load the magazine the cases line up per the follower. When you open the bottom and try and load another round the round then sits were the follower was. If you load all three from the bottom it would work as long as you start on the correct side. Talk about a pain in the a$$.

Some of my CRF have enough taper that they will snap over if I get in a hurry. But I just squeeze the extractor like Paul M designed.

05 November 2006, 03:48

jstevens

I load one in the chamber, then turn it upside down and open the floorplate and fill the magazine from the bottom. This is easier and works for me. Mine all work when loaded this way from the bottom as long as you put the first one on the side it belongs on.