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Feeding problem with Ruger 77 Mark ii 350 Rem Mag.

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13 April 2020, 01:18
Brian Canada
Feeding problem with Ruger 77 Mark ii 350 Rem Mag.
I didn't want to deflect Chuck's Ruger extractor thread so I started a new on on my Ruger M77 problems.

y Ruger 77 Markii will not feed a handoad cartridge with a Spitzer bullet. It feeds factory bullet ok.
The cartridge gets jammed on the way up the loading ramp with the bullet jammed up on the back of the barrel above the chamber and the base of the bull still under the feed rails. I have heard that this is not uncommon with the 350 Rem Mag in this rifle.

Also I hear that the single stack magazine from the Ruger scout rifle can made to work somehow.

Please help! Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
13 April 2020, 03:39
dpcd
I answered in the extractor thread.
I have built a lot of 350s on various actions. Making them feed has not been a problem.
I have a Ruger tang safety that I put a MKII barrel on, and put that into a boat paddle stock.
It feeds perfectly. On these, it is the sheet metal box that makes them feed or not; look at yours; if it feeds shorter rounds, it is not releasing them from the mag soon enough for longer ones.
13 April 2020, 04:50
Brian Canada
Thanks dpcd. That makes sense. That seems to be the problem. It is retained by the real too far forward.
Can you tell me what to look for in the sheet metal box to help it feed?


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
13 April 2020, 06:01
dpcd
I can't tell you; after doing it 1000 times you get to where it is like the pinball wizard; I can make them feed by sense of smell.
Visualize through what it is doing, to what you want it to do. Make the changes to the box, in this case, or feed rails in the case of Mausers, to get the cartridge to go like you want.
Good thing about sheet metal boxes is that you can't hurt them. You want the base to release earlier in the cycle.
The receiver rails sometimes need opened up in the last 1/3 of feeding cycle; but don't do that until you work with the box.
I used a long action that started out life as a 7mm mag. I like to use long actions for 350s.
Although I do have a short action Model 70, and a Model 7 Rem; short actions; the M70 is much longer than the 7.
13 April 2020, 06:33
Brian Canada
dpcd, Actually you ARE very helpful. I understand what you are saying and think I can put your directions to good use. There is the art and the science in most things. There is a lot of art in this one.
Thanks for your help. I will report later. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
14 April 2020, 23:11
Brian Canada
dpcd, So far it looks like my NorthFork spitzer bullet was not seated deeply enough. It feeds when I seat it to C.O.L. of 2.820 or less. C.O.L of 2.910 is a no feed. ( I did a lot of polishing on the bolt face, ramp and rails.)

I am just getting my nerve up to adjust/bend the mag box lips and maybe grind/polish the right side rail back about .125" at a time so that the base of the cartridge comes out of the magazine a bit sooner.
Thanks again for the help/encouragement. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
15 April 2020, 21:17
Brian Canada
dpcd,
I think that I got it feeding. I bent the lips of the sheet metal feed box in. Thanks for your help. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
15 April 2020, 21:41
dpcd
Excellent; good job.
Now, this is why I build such things as the 350 on long actions. Whilst they might have been developed for short ones, they always benefit from a long action for the reasons you found; sometimes you want to seat bullets out farther than the mag will allow. With a long action you can seat them out as far as the throat will allow, and I have a throat reamer that will take care of that too.
Trust me, you won't notice another .5 inch of bolt throw!
16 April 2020, 00:46
BaxterB
quote:
Originally posted by Brian Canada:
I didn't want to deflect Chuck's Ruger extractor thread so I started a new on on my Ruger M77 problems.

y Ruger 77 Markii will not feed a handoad cartridge with a Spitzer bullet. It feeds factory bullet ok.
The cartridge gets jammed on the way up the loading ramp with the bullet jammed up on the back of the barrel above the chamber and the base of the bull still under the feed rails. I have heard that this is not uncommon with the 350 Rem Mag in this rifle.

Also I hear that the single stack magazine from the Ruger scout rifle can made to work somehow.

Please help! Brian


The chamber mouth might be square and your brass could be hanging up. If it feeds factory it could be because they are crimped and the front of the case is smoother. I have heard of this happening with M77s which were tweaked by radiusing the chamber mouth
16 April 2020, 01:04
Brian Canada
BaxterB That is an interesting point. I think that I am OK on that part, but I am going to check for sure. My chamber sure is square. Thanks for the heads up. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
16 April 2020, 01:11
Brian Canada
dpcd, I agree! I spent most my life making big deal about that 1/2 inch. It's nothing. It doesn't help any thing!
Now-a-days there are many great long mono bullets to use in that 350RM cartridge. We now want that long action. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
16 April 2020, 04:17
Brian Canada
dpcd, Hello again. I just thought of something else that you may be able to help me with.

I would like to convert my Ruger M77 MK ii, 350 Rem Mag. to a Single Feed Magazine like on the Ruger Scout Rifle. Do you know how to do this or who who might specialize in it. If you can supply the components I will buy them from you.

Thanks, Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
16 April 2020, 07:57
dpcd
Yep, easy; PTG makes the nicely milled bottoms and they use AICS magazines.
I'll have to look at them and see what it would take for the 350; I have only used the long versions of PTG bottoms.
I'm afraid the short ones are only for 308; I'll check.
16 April 2020, 09:12
Brian Canada
Thanks dpcd, I will call PT&G tomorrow. Of course they might be shut down. We'll see. Brian


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.
17 April 2020, 01:42
Brian Canada
I ordered a Wyatt Magazine to experiment with.


IHMSA BC Provincial Champion and Perfect 40 Score, Unlimited Category, AAA Class.