Rimfire feeding problem

F

Fouranone

Guest
Hello All! I have a CZ American action in 17 HMR with a single shot, grooved follower in the magazine well. Because the follower has to be low enough for the rim of the cartridge to clear at the chamber, hollow point rounds will not feed from the follower when pushed by the bolt. V-max bullets will enter the chamber, but then often the front edge of the case catches on the edge of the chamber and will not feed. Anyone have an idea or method on how to get these rounds to chamber off the feed ramp with the bolt? Somehow bevel the front of the brass case? Deepen the rear of the follower so the cartridge is at a steeper angle?

Thanks!

Chris Ross
 
I would put a .008" to .012" x 45 deg break on front edge of chamber.
 
There will be a follower shape that will solve the problem. It only takes a tiny amount of material removal to make a big difference in the way the round enters the chamber. Start out by removing a bit of material a little ways back from the forward portion of the tray so the bullet sits a bit higher as it enters the chamber.

Sit the cartridge on the tray with the bullet tip just about to enter the chamber. Now mark the tray just in front of the rim. Remove about .020" of material behind this mark. If your tray has a full length sharp square groove down the center then what you need to do is slightly bevel the top corners of the groove behind the mark you made. Posting a pic of your loading tray before messing with it would be a pretty good idea so we can see what you are starting with.

Personally I wouldn't recommend beveling the rear edge of the chamber as the HMR is a high intensity rimfire and needs all the chamber support it can get.
 
Rimfire Feeding Problem

Thanks all for responses!!

Fred J.: The single shot follower is epoxied in place and I do not have the magazine.

crb: THANK YOU for the detailed recommendation!!! The tray has a round groove the same diameter as the rim of a cartridge, so the rim of the case is fully down in the groove. What tool would you recommend to remove the metal? Also, is the idea to taper the area of metal removal to the front?

Chris Ross
 
Use a Dremel tool with a ball shaped HSS burr no bigger than 1/4" dia. Mark the tray as above and then make a lengthwise groove in the tray. No more than 1/16" deep and maybe 3/32 wide. Just enough of a groove that the rim sits down a bit. The groove needs to end just in front of the mark, maybe 1/8" forward of the mark with a bit of a taper so the rim rides smoothly. The rear of the groove should go all the way back to the bolt face when the bolt is fully to the rear.

If the cartridge still hangs see where the hang up is. If it is the cartridge case mouth then you might want to extend the groove towards the front of the tray a little at a time.
 
Rimfire Feeding Problem

crp (Ray): THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASSISTANCE!!!!!! I'll give it a try. :D Chris
 
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