Hi Gentlemen, I just got my (new to me) pre-64 375 H&H back from the gunsmith and took her to the range for the first time. Very pleased with the shootabilty of it. Shot a half box of Remington 270 SP just to feel her out.
Question: when I load three rounds in the weapon, it stacks right, left, right. I found that the rounds click in the magazine flush and the bolt will not strip the first round off the top of the stack. Perplexed, I then dropped all the rounds out of the bottom of the tray and loaded two and just dropped the third straight into the chamber and closed the bolt. Upon firing and cycling the bolt the next two rounds fed perfect. Is this correct or should the top round strip off the loaded magazine? It makes me think that there may be a reliabilty issue and makes me paranoid about cycling a ghost round after firing a live first shot. I have remingtons, a sako and even the much hated weatherby. They all strip the first round unless I purposely depress the rounds with my thumb as I close the bolt. Thought maybe this could be a design feature of CRF or might be a problem with the mag spring or the bolt is not catching the rim to lock it up in the claw. Don't laugh. Please clue in the clueless.