Thread: Longbranch No4 mag problem

So something has happened to the mag on my Longbranch. It doesn’t seat like it used to so the bolt just rides over the top of the rounds, I have to hold it in a bit so they’ll get picked up.
Is this a common issue?

Get a new mag.

Sounds like the lifter could be binding, give it a clean, good spray with crc/wd, work the plate up and down with your fingers to make sure it moves square and freely

Does the mag seat and catch the magazine latch? Sometimes need a good bang with your hand- if you can pull it out without pushing the latch- no good. Mag lips can expand upward with the result that they will be hard to seat. Latch engagements can be worn. If you can see the problem, you can adjust or 'new' mag- make sure it's not too worn.

Originally Posted by Fssprecision

Sounds like the lifter could be binding, give it a clean, good spray with crc/wd, work the plate up and down with your fingers to make sure it moves square and freely

Does move freely and no binding to date

Originally Posted by 00buck

Does the mag seat and catch the magazine latch? Sometimes need a good bang with your hand- if you can pull it out without pushing the latch- no good. Mag lips can expand upward with the result that they will be hard to seat. Latch engagements can be worn. If you can see the problem, you can adjust or 'new' mag- make sure it's not too worn.

It does seat but needs a firm push…the forward portion rocks up and down a little. Have read somewhere that if the rounds are not picked up it could be that the rear lips need opening up a smidge?

Put the mag in then firmly tap it. The rifle was intended to be loaded with the magazine fitted using chargers, they're not really interchangeable mag rifles.

Probably just a weak spring. Push the follower down with your thumb and let it go. If it does not snap back up the the top it is the spring. Common problem with 80 year old rifles. Struck that twice in recent years.
GPM.

Yep. Look on the web for something to show you how to tip the follower and free it from the feed lips on the mag case so you can pull it out of the mag case. Then you can have a good look at it and see what is causing your issue...

Yup done all of the above. Doesn’t appear to be an issue with the main spring or the auxiliary one

@apkiwi , if nothing is wrong with the spring and the rounds are firmly held at the top of the mag and not rim locked (top round's rim sitting behind the rim of the next round down so that the bolt is trying to push two forwards together) then the issue is unlikely to be the mag. As you suggest the mag isn't locking in high enough, I would be looking at the mag catch assembly and sear arrangement. Is the mag catch free to move and not seized, the sear tension spring present and not broken, and nothing crudding up the works???

You will likely need to pop the foreend off to check these bits out, but that'll get you in for a good look at the inside where the mag sits anyway.

Yeah definitely the next step to take the wood off and have a good look, looking in the mag well the catch does seem to fully spring back but there may be a few mm if crud in there that has built up. The catch moves freely but it almost seems like the sprinhlg is ever so slightly sluggish. Some good tips on here, hard to remember everything some time so much appreciated

Yeah, the little 'horseshoe' spring that clicks in between the sear and the mag catch often cracks and/or loses tension, after all they are likely 75-odd years old... If the spring isn't at full tension the mag might be sitting down under it's own weight and only a couple of mm of droop can have the case rim sliding under the bolt face.

Problem solved; took it apart, no major crud under where the mag catch sits but cleaned it out anyway. Thought about the spring itself but looked to be the same as new old stock springs seen online. The mag still rocked/tipped forward so the last thing to try was to ever so slightly raise up the rear lips of the magazine and hey presto - no more rocking. Sits in there nicely now with minimal movement and feeds nicely