Just finished building a Stevens 200.
It started life as a 243 and I upgraded the barrel and stock, wasn't happy...yawn.
Started to make it a Creedmoor and scratched the idea.
Decided to turn it into a 223. That is one of the cool things about these things right?
Sent my B&C stock to CDI for bottom metal and a magazine. Quick turnaround, quality work, and a very reasonable price.
Denutted the action and put on a #6 taper Shilen Select Match barrel on cut to 21" and a proper surface ground .250" recoil lug. Rifle basix trigger KG Guncote...the works.
My smith ran several full mags of Black Hills 77gr and varios other factory ammo through her without a single hickup...looking good so far.
Took her to the range last Friday with some ammo loaded up for testing. Lapua brass, Varget, and 80gr SMKs set .020" off the lands. Every single round nosed in at 6 oclock on the chamber just an RCH from feeding in the chamber. I fiddled with the mag with no luck. No matter what we tried and there were several of us including my smith we couldn't get them to feed. Admittedly the AI mag fits a bit loose in the bottom metal but it is not particularly offputting and I assume this is how they are supposed to fit. As I say...no problems feeding factory ammo.
I was in a foul, foul mood all weekedn, and even took it out of the stock and attempted to sell the stock and bottom metal at Saturday's match, no takers...not even any lookers.
I have resolved to fix this feeding problem and I have Googled the hell out of 223 feeding problems with no results that fit my needs. My loaded rounds are 2.416" OAL.
I have surmised that if I canted the bottom metal just a bit in the rear the ammo would feed. I am currently waiting on a new mag from CDI to test this theory. I will refrain from elaborating on what happened to the original mag.
If you have any ideas please let me know.
It started life as a 243 and I upgraded the barrel and stock, wasn't happy...yawn.
Started to make it a Creedmoor and scratched the idea.
Decided to turn it into a 223. That is one of the cool things about these things right?
Sent my B&C stock to CDI for bottom metal and a magazine. Quick turnaround, quality work, and a very reasonable price.
Denutted the action and put on a #6 taper Shilen Select Match barrel on cut to 21" and a proper surface ground .250" recoil lug. Rifle basix trigger KG Guncote...the works.
My smith ran several full mags of Black Hills 77gr and varios other factory ammo through her without a single hickup...looking good so far.
Took her to the range last Friday with some ammo loaded up for testing. Lapua brass, Varget, and 80gr SMKs set .020" off the lands. Every single round nosed in at 6 oclock on the chamber just an RCH from feeding in the chamber. I fiddled with the mag with no luck. No matter what we tried and there were several of us including my smith we couldn't get them to feed. Admittedly the AI mag fits a bit loose in the bottom metal but it is not particularly offputting and I assume this is how they are supposed to fit. As I say...no problems feeding factory ammo.
I was in a foul, foul mood all weekedn, and even took it out of the stock and attempted to sell the stock and bottom metal at Saturday's match, no takers...not even any lookers.
I have resolved to fix this feeding problem and I have Googled the hell out of 223 feeding problems with no results that fit my needs. My loaded rounds are 2.416" OAL.
I have surmised that if I canted the bottom metal just a bit in the rear the ammo would feed. I am currently waiting on a new mag from CDI to test this theory. I will refrain from elaborating on what happened to the original mag.
If you have any ideas please let me know.