Thread: Howa 223 Extended Mag Follower

I had a brief look around when I got mine back in May - no luck at that point.

I took a different approach and lengthened the space available by moving the 'block' back a bit. I'm still using the stock magazine follower and it mostly works fine. The pic showing the feed rails is to illustrate how they need to be opened up at the rear if you want to sit the cases further back in the mag box. The bolt stop will also need reducing but that's very simple.

I used the cutting wheel on a Dremel to cut the slot a few mm's back where the box widens out. I had to shorten the top part that's bent over. I can now fit rounds in to about 2.46 overall length. This seems to be sufficient for the majority of the projectiles available to be able to get close to the lands if required. The only one that is still too long is the 75 grain Eld-M. As it turns out my rifle just won't shoot them really well so they're down the road!

Anything less pointy like the Sierra TMK has loads of room in the mag. It has to be pointed out that my rifle is fairly new and has the 1/8 twist barrel. It seems to have quite a long throat so can digest some very long loads that won't work in a much shorter chamber/throat setup.

I don't have pictures of the modified box as yet. I will try to remember to take some when I pull it apart shortly.