Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99 rotary wont take cartridges

For some reason, I cant push down cartridges in the magazine, I have to turn it to the left and push the base of the cartridge in, then the rest of the case, then I can load like I normally would. Not sure if Im doing something wrong, but I just started having this issue.

Does it work/feed ok after finagling the cartridges in? If so, I wouldn't sweat it.

It does, but talk about a pain in the butt to get the first cartridge in.

Make sure the bolt is all the way open and the cartridge is slid all the way to the back. You're welcome.

Im pretty sure Ive done all that, but Ill try again when I get home.

Spring might be to tight making it hard to squeeze that first round in. Once the first one's in there it gets easier.

Eh?? More rounds - more spring pressure on rotor.

Yeah, but if it's too tight sometimes it doesn't index quite right thus it's hard to get the first one in as the carrier is a little out of position. Not saying it's easy to get the next one in. Just easier than the first one.

In the same vein, do all of you routinely stuff the magazine full when hunting? I usually carry one up the spout and two or three down. I don't remember ever firing more than a couple shots at anything, with any type repeater.

I fill her up. If a shot goes bad, i don't want to have to reload to follow a wounded one.

I usually do 3, 1 in the barrel 2 in the magazine. Three more in coat pocket.

By the time the shooting starts I've put a hell of a lot of effort into getting to that point so I won't be handicapping myself unnecessarily. Filler up, flame on. If I wanted a single shot I'd carry one, they're lighter.

Would belt fed be the answer?

Why couldn't a 99C be converted? belt fed from below and all...

I can see the tree stand loaded down with 500 pounds of ammo and the 99 on a tripod! Let the field fill up and light 'em up! Scoop up the bodies with a front end loader.

Hey, it could work.

I like it especially after running out of ammo last year. Fortunately the last round did the poor little elk in.

I load 5 and carry another 10 in a cartridge holder on my belt. Once needed 4 to bring down a deer running across my front. The first three were minor hits and the fourth took out his heart and lungs. Amazing how fast you can shoot a 99 at a running deer at fairly close range with a 2.5 power scope. A couple of the folks in my party said they thought it was someone else with an auto loader. A very rare shot into a recent clear cut.

I have the same issue with a 99-358. It is like new, so wear should not be a problem. The following shells go in like a champ, but the first one is a struggle. I posted a similar question last week and one responder suggested loading the first one base down and nose up. It works much better this way, although not easy with a scope mounted.

Charlie

Sometimes my 250 R is hard getting the first round started. It seems it's worse when I haven't used it in a while. After I run a few rounds through it I get in the groove of how to do it. It's more of a familiarization thing than anything else. I just need to remember "How" to get the first one going. The more I use it the less it's a problem, Joe.

I've gotten into the habit of starting the fisrt round holding it with the tip up at about 20 degrees and pushing the head (base) of the case down and then pushing the remainder of the cartridge in ... I think that might help your issue.

I've recently had this problem too but I find my second and third cartridges harder yet. 30/30

I've been looking for instructions on servicing the rotary mag. I've seen it on the "net" somewhere and thought it was here. Can't find it now. Is it pinned somewhere?