So I finally got some brass for my 404. I loaded a couple FMJ Woodleigh and a soft to cycle in the action. If I load just one it won't feed. Looks like a ramp issue. I load two and the second one feeds nice. I load three and it is tight enough I can't close the bolt on an empty chamber with three down. I open the bolt and the third wants to pop up a bit, or out, and will feed if it is straight. When ejecting the third the second pops right out with the third and leaves the first beating its head against a wall. Not really DGR material but I'm willing to try to fix it if someone will give me guidance. Thanks in advance.

Woody,
I could fix it but not explain it. Check with Duane, he may be able to head you in the right direction.
Good luck,

Have the sides of the magazine well been milled out. I had a similar problem and milling correctly gave me efective feeding EVERY time.

Von Gruff.

I did a post a while back "making it feed" may help

Here it is.

http://forums.accuratereloadin.../9411043/m/843106779

quote:

Originally posted by PoppaW:
So I finally got some brass for my 404. I loaded a couple FMJ Woodleigh and a soft to cycle in the action. If I load just one it won't feed. Looks like a ramp issue. I load two and the second one feeds nice. I load three and it is tight enough I can't close the bolt on an empty chamber with three down. I open the bolt and the third wants to pop up a bit, or out, and will feed if it is straight. When ejecting the third the second pops right out with the third and leaves the first beating its head against a wall. Not really DGR material but I'm willing to try to fix it if someone will give me guidance. Thanks in advance.

Rounds try to pop up because (1) the feed rails are too narrow to contain the case, and/or, (2) the stacking geometry is incorrect putting insufficient side pressure on the cartridges to hold them in place beneath what rail there is.

Feed rails designed for 8x57 cartridges can't be expected to contain the 404. Material has to be removed from under the rails and quite likely from the mag box in order to house the round. Both sides. The follower will likely need to be altered, or, changed to hold the anchor in the correct position to allow proper stacking of the remaining rounds.

Once the rounds are neatly stacked and contained beneath the rails, then you can start to address how and when they emerge, and in what direction they move.

You might want to hire this done.

Just by looking at it it seems too narrow in the mag to hold the shells in. I can pop the top one in and it will pop right back out. This all makes sense to me. How much metal is taken off the mag well to start as I'm sure it hasn't been touched. Is there a way to measure some ammo and measure the mag well and see if it needs an exact amount more then do the follower then the ramp?

I checked the mag well and it has been milled. It looks like about half the thickness has been taken away for 80% of the length ending about where the middle of the case neck is. I looked at the follower and the one on my RSM and see some huge differences. The 98 one is stock. I was wondering if the front of the follower should be ground off like the RSM's as the original 8x57 was so skinny and my 404 is so wide up front. I know this will help feeding and I figure its only a two down right now, but will it make the pop up shells go away? What do I look at to get the three in the mag and the bolt closed?
Ideally I want a new stock and totally rework the gun but for now I have to tinker as the budget is small.
Thanks again.

quote:

Originally posted by PoppaW:
I checked the mag well and it has been milled. It looks like about half the thickness has been taken away for 80% of the length ending about where the middle of the case neck is. I looked at the follower and the one on my RSM and see some huge differences. The 98 one is stock. I was wondering if the front of the follower should be ground off like the RSM's as the original 8x57 was so skinny and my 404 is so wide up front. I know this will help feeding and I figure its only a two down right now, but will it make the pop up shells go away? What do I look at to get the three in the mag and the bolt closed?
Ideally I want a new stock and totally rework the gun but for now I have to tinker as the budget is small.
Thanks again.

It's difficult to tell exactly your rifle needs without having the actual piece in hand to examine. The follower has to hold the case against the magazine wall in a manner so that there is little to no side movement.

In order to fit 3 in the box you need to gain depth. Again, I don't know what you have so I couldn't say for sure. No doubt a deeper box would be handy. Failing some drastic modification, you might have to carry that 3rd round in your pocket.

When I built my 404 I didn't want the pregnant belly look of a drop box so I had stock screws made about .101in (2.57mm) longer and built the stock accordingly. Three down with ease and the rifle is still lively in the hand.Where I had most of the problem with feeding was under the rails and because of bullet shape ( I shoot a lot of cast bullets with long bore riding nose section ) The milling had to go right up to the ogive of the bullet. It will hold and feed reliably now no matter how briskly I work the bolt. Hope you get it sorted as the 404 is great for tension relief in all manner of ways.

Von Gruff.

The more I cycle my dummies and look at the issues the worse it seems. I guess it is not something I can just fix. I will have to send it over to the Smiths after I have a good phone call with them. If it sounds like the same kind of ideas there as here its a go. If they are off on a tanjent then I will look elsewhere.
Thanks for all the help. I have definatly learned more about how guns work by buying this 404. Its a little different than getting one that works 100%, even though that would have been nice. I guess I'm off to the races.

The ramp on my .333Jeffery have two grooves(l&R) in order to feed the short case and looong bullets..

the timing of all rounds housed and fed is critical....may I suggest sending it to one these here who really have studied and have overcome....it is worth the money and the wait.

If someone is willing in Alberta I have no problem. I really don't want the hassle of shipping a gun across the border. I know the people and parts available south of the border multiply 100 fold.
Thanks