On a M70 .375, EVERY TIME the last round in the mag, coming from the right side of the mag, isn't grabbed by the bolt face and kind of just jams sideways after it is pushed forward about 0.25".

This is more than a bit disconcerting, as I really need this rifle to be functioning 110% of the time for a buffalo hunt that now is 7 weeks off.

My smith has polished the rails, tweaked the spring, etc. and nothing seems to make this go away.

Any suggestions?

Weak spring in the magazine? You say spring has been "tweaked" so I guess that can't be it. Rough bolt face? I'm not a gunsmith so my opinions don't count, but logic points to something impeding the cartridge to move up and I can only think of the spring, the friction of the bolt face or perhaps the extractor claw being oversized.

quote:

Weak spring in the magazine?

exactly what I was thinking!

The problem is likely the follower. Have your gunsmith try a different follower or two.

Westpac is right! If it feeds all the rounds except the last, it is the follower. You need to work the follower over so the last round sits more toward the middle of the magazine box which will allow it to move up higher.

I would get a new mag spring,if the other one was tweaked,this means it is weak to begin with. You might try turning it around as it might have gotten put in upside down.

Mark Penrod, Penrod Precision 312 College Ave N Manchester, IN 46926 Phone: 260-982-8385 E-mail: markpenrod@kconline.com ...jorge

Unfortunately, It needs to go to Tanz in 6 weeks, so sending it to Mark isn't an option.

When I had a pressing hunt date, Mark was able to turn my rifle around in about 2 weeks. You might want to pursue that option. jorge

Malm has generously offered to take it on as an emergency if my local guy can't resolve it by Saturday. He's in SLC, so he's a lot closer for me; I can drive it up and back if need be.

I'm also going to try a known good mag spring and see if that does it.

I've seen this caused when the last round causes the follower to cock and bind so the round does not go straight and center.

I'm unsure if all M70 followers have this feature, but, most of the Supergrade followers have a relief cut on the left side which prevents it from binding. This, along w/ deburring and polishing the mating surfaces ensures that the follower stays straight and true w/ the last round.

I had one left over M70 30-06 Supergrade follower that I kept to test in rifles w/ last round feed issues as you described. Most I could correct by installing that follower. Sometimes a heavier spring overcomes the binding but it doesn't correct the follower issue.

good luck,
GVA

I had the same problem on my M70 375. Brownells sells a follower that solved it.

I had a similar problem with a M70 416RemMag that I got for a buffalo hunt. I replaced the weak magazine spring and the follower. It functioned fine after that.

Well, I stuck a spring and follower from a .338 in it just now.

It's a sloppy, ugly, loose fit but it seems to feed with no hangups.

I'll put 40 rounds thru it tomorrow and see what happens, I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by LRH270:
Well, I stuck a spring and follower from a .338 in it just now.

It's a sloppy, ugly, loose fit but it seems to feed with no hangups.

I'll put 40 rounds thru it tomorrow and see what happens, I guess.

If it's truly sloppy, ugly and loose I think I've had her on my bench!

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