Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Mauser magazine problem

I have an FN custom Mauser with a magazine problem. I can load 5 rounds into the magazine but only the first two feed. The last three are tilted nose down and just create a jam. The rifle never did this before with any load I've use but this was a new load I thought I might use with the 180 gr. Accubond. It works just fine with the 165 gr. AB seated to the same depth. Any ideas?
Paul B.

The "as designed " follower spring should have two different width "tongues". The narrow one should engage the follower, the wide should engage the floorplate. You might check that. It's kind of unlikely, since it feeds properly with the 165. I have never ran into your problem. As a last resort, you might try to tweak the spring to exert some additional force on the forward end of the follower?

PS...Don't want to annoy you...but you ARE operating the bolt briskly I assume? Operating the bolt in the stealth mode can create feeding problems where none exist. It is, after all, a military design.

not in a properly functioning rifle.

Z1r, You are right, but the o.p. said "custom" FN. As an example, let's say it was a military contract action for 8x57 and later sporterized to say, a .257 R...then the feed rails are trying to contain a shorter, reduced diameter, increased body taper cartridge, and this can create feeding problems. Where the original 8x57 will feed flawlessly, slow, fast, and upside down 4 ways from Sunday...a large divergence from the parent design may not feed flawlessly. Barreling a military Mauser in .284 Win. is a classic example, I've done 3 or 4 and they all needed tweaking before the customer took delivery.

I guess I should have been more clear. The rifle is a custom based on a commercial FN action chambered to the 30-06. The original chambering before rebarreling was 30-06.

I was thinking maybe it might have to do with my handloads but it did the same thing with some factory ammo. Sometimes it'll only feed two and other times three but the round that hang up have the noses pointed down.

I have several other rifles on commercial FNs and FNs marked J.C. Higgins M50 and none of those are having this problem.
Paul B.

Some strategic tweaking of the follower spring might work. See if it comes up "straight" from the floorplate, or it it's tilted forward. If you;re holding the floorplate and the front of the follower is taking a dive, that's what I'd expect to see. Maybe a new follower spring is also a good idea because if it's an FN, that's what, mid Sixties? Spring might have tired out a little.

I agree. If its working properly it should be fine at any speed.