.243 feed problems from a 1903 action

[threepdr]

I recently got a package deal of a stock, barrel and bolt for a 1903 but chambered in .243.  Someone had rescued a restorable 1903 reviever from the set.  I have a 1903A3 reciever that had already been ruined of any collectors value so the .243 set was just the ticket for it.  The whole thing when together without a hitch, but the shorter .243 rounds do not feed well from the 30-06 magazine.  It will work, but I have to chamber slow and sometimes the extractor will not pickup the cartridge rim when it chambers.

Any easy fixes to this?  Alteration of the follower or a different follower possibly?

Thanks 

[Frank46]

Couple things, first make sure the magazine/trigger guard assembly is fully inletted into the stock. Second if you have the stamped magazine follower see if you can get one of the milled ones. Sometimes just changing out the follower can make a huge difference. And lastly, if you have the stamped magazine/trigger guard assembly you may want to see if you can get the milled one. I have an 03A3 that origionally had problems feeding and extracting shells. Changed out to all milled parts and fully inletted the mag assembly. May or not work for you as the .243 cartridge is shorter than the '06. Frank

[trotterlg]

Probably the problem is that the magazine is releasing the shorter .243 round before the bullet enters the chamber.  You may want to put a 30-06 round in the magazine and see where it releases, then look at how a 243 rounds acts.  There may be no easy solution, but my bet will go with the early release of the round from the magazine.  Larry

[Bigeasy]

Another thought - maybe try fabricating a magazine block, as used on some commercial rifles, that "shortens" the magazine box for short action rounds.

Larry

[gunnut69]

Sometimes going from a long round to a short one is more difficult than vise versa.. The bolck would be my first choice. There's prcious little one can do to shring the feed throats milled into the action. The test would be to load the 243's into the front part of the magazine.. If they feed better from that position then a block would be a good idea. Be certain the mag spring is strong enough and installed correctly. Also try loading a 30-06 from the magazine. It won't completely enter the chamber but should give an indication as to whether or not it wants to feed.. Another thing to check is whether or not the action rails(throats) were ever opened to take magnum diameter rounds. If so undoing that can create an interesting challenge.. Diagnosis is always a good idea before making changes..

[Steve P]

Another thought - maybe try fabricating a magazine block, as used on some commercial rifles, that "shortens" the magazine box for short action rounds.

Larry

+1  Buddy of mine did this for his .22-250 made on a 98 Mauser action.

Steve

[threepdr]

Thanks guys,

I found a follower for a short action mauser.  I'll see if it helps with the cartridges pushed forward. If so, I'll find a mag spring for a short action and put a block in the rear of the mag box.

I converted a 8mm Turk Mauser to .308 and it feeds like a champ.  I was hoping for the same luck here.

Mark

[Mikey]

threepdr:  go to Brownells, they have a removable magazine to replace the box magazine of the 98 Mauser for conversions to 308 - your 243 is a 308 necked to 6mm.  Hope (I'm right and) this helps.