I have a Winchester Model 70 .270 WSM Super Shadow that has a feeding problem. I bought the rifle a couple of years ago and am pleased with its other characteristics. The difficulty is in chambering the first round when feeding from the magazine. It takes an extreme amount of force to load the first shell into the chamber--so much that I fear it could "slam fire". 2nd and third rounds, no problem. Single round from the breech, no problem. I had a gunsmith polish the feed ramp which resulted in only minimal improvement. The bolt action seems a bit stiff too. The only way I can use this as a hunting rifle is to carry it with a round in the chamber and the safety on--which is something I don't like to do.

Anyone else have this problem or have a cure for it?

With it feeding the third round with no problem, the first thing I would want to know is, with three rounds loaded in the magazine, how much vertical play is present. In other words, can you easily push all three rounds down and close the bolt?

No real problems there---I can push down the magazine about a quarter of an inch easily---similar to my other bolt actions. I don't think the mag spring is the culprit. Having said that, let me make it clear that I am neither a machinist or any sort of gunsmith. (I could bend an anvil in a sand pile--being most talented with a crescent wrench and a 3 pound hammer)

The problem, as I see it, comes when the lower right corner of the bolt fails to engage the cartridge. The round does not pop up and forward enough to travel with the bolt. Then, when the bolt is half closed, it gets caught in the action without being locked to the bolt face. This does not occur when the chamber has less than 3 rounds.

So I guess I could just make it a 2 shot rifle. (That should be enough anyway.)

Theoretically, the first round should occupy the same position under the rail as the third round. The only difference between the first and the third is spring tension and the position of the second round.

The bottom round relies on the follower to hold it in place, the second round is held in place by the position of the bottom round. The top round is held in place by the position of the second.

The width of the magazine box and thus the sitting position of the second round is crucial when it comes to feeding the top round. If the magazine box is too wide, the second round will sit further to the side of the top round and drive the top round hard against the side of the box and under the rail. This additional side force can cause a hard, or, out of whack first feed.

You can temporarily adjust the position of the second round by placing a business card, or two, inside the magazine box to move the second round further under the top round. This will reduce the amount of side pressure against the top round which may give you some idea or help in solving the problem.

Troubleshooting feed problems is much easier by putting actual eye's on the problem than trying to picture the problem and explaining it. Remember, if the bottom round is feeding fine, then the problem lies with the box, or, the follower. Whatever you do, don't let anyone make any modifications to the receivers feed rails.

That makes sense. Thank you!