Anybody have an idea on what the magazine capacity is supposed to be? I struggle to have more than 2 in the magazine. Really doesn't feed at all when I try a 3rd. Is it the follower, maybe? Controlled feed, btw.

It's a 375 Wby that I just had rebarreled to 300 winmag. I believe it was originally a Sako on FN Mauser action. Have had the Wby over 50 years, but it's very light and short barreled, and kicks really hard. Decided to change it to a plains game caliber with a normal length barrel and weight.

Used it in Mozambique for buffalo and plains game a few years back, and am thinking I could get 2 of the Wby in there, plus one in the chamber. Can't do it now.....

The capacity of the magazine is the number of rounds that you can push down and close the bolt over. The fact that it won't feed with more than two in the magazine could be the follower, guide rails or feed ramp or a combination of all these.
Need to watch the loading sequence carefully (and safely) to see where the misfeed is occurring.

The 300WinMag is a shorter less tapered case than the long 375 Wby where both would sit and feed up from the magazine so you would expect the guide rails to need massaging for the Win Mag.

With controlled round feed even a slightly sharp heel on the extractor can prevent the cartridge head popping up smoothly behind the extractor and cause misalignment into the chamber. Stoning a chamfer on the extractor heel can do wonders for feeding.

Good information, and thank you. When I talk with my gunsmith I now have a better understanding of the topic. I’m using snap caps and a dummy round, by the way. No need to court a big, loud surprise!

The factory guard was a modified 30-06 made longer in the front so a 375 H&H could be stuffed into it
They would hold three 375 H&H cartridges.

The 375 Weatherby with its larger diameter shoulder would then not fit properly and only hold 2

The 300 Win Mag with its shorter and larger diameter shoulder again will only hold 2 cartridges and may not feed as well

I will post some pics tomorrow showing some guard mods that can be done, however the receiver feed rails must also be re-machined to match.
I have re-machined the insides of many guards over the years, to allow the cartridges to properly lay inside the altered guard
Then the proper re-work of the rails begins
I am working currently on a 375 H&H and by proper re-cutting of the inside and a pocket floor-plate it will hold 4 cartridges in the guard when I am done

I have a 1909 Arg action in the shop that I converted to 300 Win Mag , modified the inside of the guard, added a pocket floor plate, it now holds 4 cartridges

This work can be done and not alter the side profile of a existing stock, some re-inleting will be needed due to a wider mid section of the guard

Jim Wisner

That is some very specific information and a great explanation. Much appreciated. For my upcoming plains game hunt, I'm likely to just leave it as is. Besides, 2 shots oughta be enough, right ??

Anyway, when I return I'll see about modifying it a bit.

This top picture shows 3 1909 Arg guards.

The one on the bottom has 257 Roberts ammo in it, as unaltered.
The one in the middle has had the rear wall thinned a slight bit, then the front wall extended, and has 35 Whelen ammo in it
The on on top has had the rear wall thinned a bit, the front extended, and the side wall thinned, then the middle bowed out just so the 9.3x64 ammo will lay inside at the proper angle



Here is another 1909 Arg that I have reworked into a 300 Win Mag
Again all 4 guard walls redone and then the middle bowed out so the ammo will lay inside properly.
You can see this shallow Pocket Floor Plate, its .156 deep in the center cuts, to allow the spring, follower and a slight amount of the first cartridge to go deeper thus creating a 4 round capacity.
The depth of the guard was not changed, just the thickness of the side walls, inside length, and adding a Pocket Floor Plate



Hope this clears things up better.

Jim Wisner

Two down and one up the keyester should be more than adequate for plains game, iffy on DG however../depends on how well you shoot, but when shit happens, the outcome can be tragic. I mean some guys just have two shots on DG and two more laced between and betwixt thier fingers holding onto the forend of their rifle, talk about a fumble in the works.. and yes Ive challanged them on safari for fun and games, its a hoot..

Don't know about the 375 WBY, but I have a factory Husqvarna that came on 9.3x57 and it held 5 '57s down and 4 '63s down - until i thinned the side walls. Works perfect now - 5 '63s down.

What's really more important IMHO than magazine depth (that helps) is the correct follower and correct geometry of the mag (width at front and rear) - all matched to the round.

Good information. Especially about the follower. Thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:


What's really more important IMHO than magazine depth (that helps) is the correct follower and correct geometry of the mag (width at front and rear) - all matched to the round.

Just making sure people read this a second time.