Feed problems with Model 16 in .223 Rem

[The Sodbuster]

Was out to the range on 12/30 shooting my Savage model 16 in .223 Remington.  I've had this gun a couple years and have put in the neighborhood of 600 -700 rounds through it.  Haven't had any problems previously that I can recall.  When practicing at the range I generally load 4 rounds in the magazine and shoot all 4 from one position.  On a few occasions, after the first round, I cycled the bolt and just heard a "click" when I squeezed the trigger.  First couple times I figured misfire; but, when I opened the bolt I found it had failed to engage the second cartridge. 

I didn't shortstroke it.  I tried running the bolt back and forth over the magazine a couple times, and each time the bolt slid over the round.  Had to manually push the front end of the cartridge down to raise the rear a smidgen in order for it to feed properly.  It never happened with a 1st, 3rd, or 4th round, only the second.  These were Remington cases I've loaded before and not had any feed troubles with, so I don't think it was an ammo problem. 

Out of 8 series of 4 rounds each, the rifle probably skipped over the 2nd round 3 or 4 times.  Any opinions?

I'll try and make it out to the range next week with some different brass and see if I have the same problem.

[rickyp]

could the spring be getting weak?

[LaOtto222]

Could be a lot of things. Here are some to try/look at. Mag lips bent out of adjustment just a little. The follower is getting caught on something. Try to push it down with your finger to make sure it goes up and down smoothly. The follower spring is weak. The bolt head is getting slightly rounded off, slipping over the cartridge with out pushing out of the mag. The cases are slightly different size. OAL length of cartridge is different, hanging on front or back of magazine. Some of these are not likely, but who knows? I think the spring pressure is just not right for the second cartridge some how. Due to weakness, or being bent, who knows. You will have to try different things until you find out what it is. I give some things to check out to start with. Keep us informed of your progress.

[mountainview]

S'buster
I used to run into this problem on my boy's Mod 11 and my 12FV. Two things I discovered that have made such occurrences virtually non-existent on my 2 rigs. One is to make sure the cartridge rim is close to or touching the rear wall of the magazine well (not sure why this works and never analyzed it but any feeding problems I used to have disappeared once I started this). A second possibility is the particular load. I took a new gun back after my first time at the range with it fuming that it did not feed no matter what. Gunsmith cycled it for 30 minutes trying to duplicate the problem in front of my eyes and never had a glitch but he was using a different load. I went home and switched loads and presto, the rounds went in without a glitch.