I have a Mauser 98 in 35 Whelen that I built that is giving me feeding issues. Now I know, check feeding before you finish the build!

Hers is what it is doing:

When I feed one round from the magazine it feeds fine (other than a little bit of sticking at the final ½ inch of travel that I think is the extractor)

When I feed two rounds from the magazine it feeds fine (other than the little sticking issue)

When I try three rounds in the magazine the round gets stuck about half way out of the magazine (see picture). If I really force it the round will feed but it really scrapes the rounds up requires a lot of force. I don’t think that it is the extractor because it happens before the extractor is engaged and I can pull the bolt back and the round stays there. When the round is just sitting there (as in the picture) it feels like the other rounds in the magazine are bound.

Other notes:

1 it does it in the stock and out.
2 I am using 270 dummy rounds in the picture, they are behaving the same as the 35 Whelen Rounds.
3 The bottom metal is aftermarket from Gunparts Corp, not the original Mauser.

I am a little stumped, anyone have any ideas?

Have you messed with the feed rails? Sounds like the bullets in the mag are coming up too high and binding the round being chambered.

Brad,

This may go against what we all "know", but I had the same problem with my .429 express mauser. I had parted the gun together, started with an action but no bottom metal and follower. I bought a bottom metal, spring, follower from Sarco or such, and put it in. It wouldn't feed the original 8mm it was designed for, or the straight walled .429 express. Since it would feed the second round, but not the first and 3rd, I would normally have thought it was a feed rail problem on that side. But, bothered me that it wouldn't feed original 8mm, so I looked further before I started grinding.

What worked in my case was to replace the follower. It was for something else, don't know what, and held the first round offset over to bind. Second round had plenty of room, so it fed, but the second round held the 3rd round offset so it bound. Replacing the follower fixed all the feeding problems.


dave

Joe, No I have not done anything the feed rails and I don't think anything was done to them before I got it. I would think feed rails as well but it feeds from that side if I put one round.

Dave, I think that you may be on to something (based on the feeding one from the right side). The follower is a machined mil surplus follower. I can try one from another Mauser and see if that helps. I have a FN in 25-06 that feeds great. I will give that follower a try.

I once had a similar problem with a 98 "converted" to 30-06. I replaced the Mauser follower with one from a Springfield. Problem solved.

Brad, have a read of my post here and look at the photos, this may help.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...9411043/m/5191091791

When I try to correct a feed problem, I always start with three rounds down and work on the rails and the extractor until it feeds that third round. Next, with two down I work on the other side rail until that feeds. The last is with one down. If that don't feed, then it is the follower that needs work. Duane will argue that point with me but...

I think you already pegged it as an extractor issue. Likely too tight and it is not sliding forward and back easily. You should be able to slide it to and fro with moderate finger pressure. It could be binding on the collar so check that fit too. Also check the lower part of the claw and see if it has been chamfered to allow easy loading.

With any mechanical issue I try to eliminate as many variables as possible.

Have you tried feeding without the extractor?

That will prove that it is or is not the extractor. If it is NOT, then it could be the follower or rails.

Craigster,
I wish I had one to try, that would be really interesting. I am going to dig up all the followers that I have and give them a try.

Eagle,
I checked out your thread and I think that my extractor could use some tuning and that would help that last bit but I dont think that the hanging up I am seeing (in the picture) is the extractor because it is getting hung up before it engages the extractor. In the picture the bolt is pulled back but the round is still stuck.

Jim,
I am reluctant to mess with the feed rails until I am sure that is the issue. The fact that it feeds with one round makes me think that the feed rails are not the issue. But I could be wrong.

Duane, I have read and reread that thread (at least your first part) several times. But am reluctant to start messing with the feed rails untel I have verified that it is not something else. Given the fact that it feeds when one round is in the mag but not three makes me think that the rails are not the issue. But like I said I could be wrong.

Bobster, I think that my extractor needs to be cleaned up but I am not convinced that is it.

Fal, You are right I should start eliminating variables. I have not tried it without the extractor. That is an excellent idea I will give that a try.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions guys I really appreciate the input. I will try some of this stuff and get back to you.

Thanks!

Just tried it without the extractor.

Same results, jambs up as shown in the picture with 3 rounds in the mag.

Feeds fine with 2 rounds in the mag and feeds fine with 1 round in the mag

Then I swapped out the follower with one from another rifle, I had the same results. The follower looked exactly the same so that is not surprising.

Go back to the beginning; if it was an 8mm to start with, try and see if those feed. Look at the follower as the culprit. And the mag; you said it was an aftermarket one is it an aluminum one? could be made wrong. check it against a real military one. See if a mil one feeds 8mm, then 270. Is your chamber throat chamfered or did a smith leave it sharp (if so, fire him). The feed rails for an 8mm should feed a 270.

Got it figured out guys. I tried it with other bottom metal and it worked fine so I narrowed it down to the bottom metal.

The magazine box on my new bottom metal was narrower and causing the cartridges to bind. A little milling and filing and everything works great now.

Thanks for the help!