Mauser feeding and floorplate

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15-01-2022, 04:12 PM
csmiffy

Mauser feeding and floorplate

Righto mauser experts
All but finished the parker hale 270.
It is a shooter as such but haven't yet.
Anyway went to see how it feeds.
It started as a 7x57 so maybe
Well it does but some small adjustments required.
The feed rails need a tiny bit taken off as the projectiles rub and can be a bit sticky. Makes sense as 270s are.a little longer than the original chambering
That's ok but the main one on the last round the floor plate pushes forward and the front of the floorplate gets caught by the feed ramp.
Close to 10mm gap between front of follower and mag box
It is running a different mag box/floorplate assembly but it compares the same to the original
Using the original follower and spring
Initial google research suggests a new/stronger spring?.
I could try some swapsies with the 8x57 I got off a forum member recently to prove the concept
Thoughts?
15-01-2022, 04:27 PM
akaroa1

@csmiffy put up an image of the spring you have and I will see if it is like any in my hoard
15-01-2022, 05:32 PM
Moa Hunter

I suggest that the angle on the floor plate needs changed and possibly the height of the step. As a test, try a piece of insulation tape around the spring at a zigzag bend to compress the bend and lift the front of the follower.
15-01-2022, 05:35 PM
csmiffy

will do. It is a bloody old spring and could probably do with a change regardless.
Had a bit of a comparison with the 8x57 I got recently. The feed ramp doesn't hang over the magazine box at all, just a smooth transition.
On this one, it overhangs a couple of mm. I'll swap the old unit over and see what it looks like. While I'm massaging the rails. I may just smooth it out the same as the 8mm
The cartridges as a rule go straight in if they are up properly so doesn't need much at all. I'll make a round with the 150 grainers and seat it way out and make sure they fit.
If I ever get those unicorn dust 160 grainers @Micky Duck uses I may have to do more lol
15-01-2022, 05:56 PM
csmiffy

1 Attachment(s)

@akaroa1 see pic attached although I'd day it would be awfully close to a P14/P17 spring which may just work as well with minor tweaking
Attachment 187961
15-01-2022, 06:00 PM
garyp

Got a spare follower and spring here if you want to try them
15-01-2022, 06:02 PM
Micky Duck

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

will do. It is a bloody old spring and could probably do with a change regardless.
Had a bit of a comparison with the 8x57 I got recently. The feed ramp doesn't hang over the magazine box at all, just a smooth transition.
On this one, it overhangs a couple of mm. I'll swap the old unit over and see what it looks like. While I'm massaging the rails. I may just smooth it out the same as the 8mm
The cartridges as a rule go straight in if they are up properly so doesn't need much at all. I'll make a round with the 150 grainers and seat it way out and make sure they fit.
If I ever get those unicorn dust 160 grainers @Micky Duck uses I may have to do more lol

170grn mate...the 160s were lapua megas,bought from belmont 25ish years ago...they were good too LOL.
15-01-2022, 06:22 PM
akaroa1

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@akaroa1 see pic attached although I'd day it would be awfully close to a P14/P17 spring which may just work as well with minor tweaking
Attachment 187961

@csmiffy that looks pretty familiar
I think there's one of them knocking around out there
Will go and have a search and post ASAP
15-01-2022, 06:25 PM
csmiffy

Dont stress about it.
Only had the buggered rifle for close to 18 years and been dicking around for the last couple getting it to where it is now lol
15-01-2022, 07:00 PM
Micky Duck

all the bits are here gathering dust from the model70 lightweight if needed....
15-01-2022, 07:19 PM
csmiffy

Cheers MD. Dont think too much of it would fit a 98 except for maybe the spring.
Mind you the follower may be close I suppose
15-01-2022, 08:04 PM
Tentman

Hey Craig - be very careful even thinking about altering guide rails - Mauser 98's feeding are all about the follower, if it aint going right change springs and followers tillit does!
15-01-2022, 08:45 PM
MSL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey Craig - be very careful even thinking about altering guide rails - Mauser 98's feeding are all about the follower, if it aint going right change springs and followers tillit does!

Many people have been caught out altering guide rails, only to find that was never the issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
15-01-2022, 09:19 PM
gundoc

Smiffy, in your photo you can see a wee kink on the uphill leg close to the centre bend. Straighten that out by hand which will lift the front of the follower. You can also put an upward bend on the upper limb in front of the last bend. Always bend the limbs but do not attempt to alter the bends or they will break. Make sure you have a good bevel on the rear of the follower.
15-01-2022, 09:29 PM
akaroa1

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@csmiffy that looks pretty familiar
I think there's one of them knocking around out there
Will go and have a search and post ASAP

Sorry @csmiffy I found who it the hoard and both were broken one one leaf missing !
15-01-2022, 09:29 PM
HandH

Yup don’t take anything off the rails, you can’t put it back!!! I also have spare springs and followers…
15-01-2022, 10:46 PM
csmiffy

Cheers everyone. All taken on board and I'll have a play with the spring as per gundocs advice.
Well aware feed rails are touchy.
As posted it actually feeds quite well when the projectiles are allowed to sit up properly. Surely the projectiles.arent meant to touch the side.of the action?
The bottom of the feed ramp that over hangs the mag box is doing me no favours.
I was under the impression though that all the action feed rails and followers are made to suit different cartridges.
I've gone from a 7x57 to a 270 sort of close.
@HandH if you had a 270/3006 based follower/spring I might be interested if these tweaks dont work
16-01-2022, 08:41 AM
csmiffy

@gundoc about the bevel on the rear of the follower.
Did it on the P14 so the bolt could slide over better,
Does that also help stop with not bending the spring?
16-01-2022, 09:53 AM
Moa Hunter

Changing the step height on the follower can make a huge difference to how the rounds are presented to the chamber. I have two rifles converted from med 7x57 length to long and in both cases the followers for 7x57 were much flatter than they needed to be for the long case. Gluing a strip of plastic or metal to the follower is a reversible way to test if this will make a difference
16-01-2022, 02:29 PM
gundoc

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@gundoc about the bevel on the rear of the follower.
Did it on the P14 so the bolt could slide over better,
Does that also help stop with not bending the spring?

The back of the follower was left square in the original Mausers so it provided a solid stop to remind the soldier he was empty, but also pivoted the follower forward, bending the spring over time. The bevelled edge follower is preferred to protect the spring as well as making it easier to close the bolt on an empty mag.
16-01-2022, 03:16 PM
csmiffy

Quote:

Originally Posted by gundoc

The back of the follower was left square in the original Mausers so it provided a solid stop to remind the soldier he was empty, but also pivoted the follower forward, bending the spring over time. The bevelled edge follower is preferred to protect the spring as well as making it easier to close the bolt on an empty mag.

Excellent. Learnt something again from you @gundoc. Thank you
I was channelling my inner moron today as I was going around to a mates place to give him back his parker hale 3006 and get my 416. A mad rush this morning pulling the follower and spring out of his one to try in mine and take a bunch of photos. It still did the same thing projectile touching thing but the spring on his follower is way shorter than mine
Also had a go with his and it has a similar issue where the projectiles rub the side of the action but after a chat found out it started life as a 308 and got a rebarrel.
Once I get my stuff sorted I'll post some of the applicable photos up
16-01-2022, 04:47 PM
JohnDuxbury

Smiffy, is your PArker Hale made on a military 98 action or is it a Santa Barbara commercial one? (The military will have a thumb cut out, PH Safari etc. The PH1200 and so on had straight left hand receiver wall.
16-01-2022, 05:23 PM
csmiffy

@JohnDuxbury ex-military with thumb cut and safety on bolt.
Just tried putting happy snaps up of the offending part of the feed rail plus some of the followers but just wont let me
i do have the 8x57 to try too to see how that feeds, that is the most likely original follower etc to see what touches where
16-01-2022, 07:27 PM
csmiffy

3 Attachment(s)

see below, Blued follower is mine, silver one is from mates 3006 that was a 308. Mine is a bit springier
If you look closely you can see where the projectile is touching the side of the action, almost a little ridge there. At the least just a polish in order?
Damn computer. had a couple more but stopped again

Attachment 188070

Attachment 188071

Attachment 188072
18-01-2022, 08:38 AM
FRST

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

see below, Blued follower is mine, silver one is from mates 3006 that was a 308. Mine is a bit springier
If you look closely you can see where the projectile is touching the side of the action, almost a little ridge there. At the least just a polish in order?
Damn computer. had a couple more but stopped again

Attachment 188070

Attachment 188071

Attachment 188072

Polish only, emery paper etc. That ridge is actually essential as you push the cartridge forward it directs the round to a more central path towards the breech. As the mauser does not have coned breech its quite important. You could experiment with different followers as some have suggested - longer ones could help prevent the nose diving effect, along with spring tension, etc. I've successfully used Remington 700 and Schultz & Larsen followers in M98's but they were for much straighter walled magnums than your 270.
18-01-2022, 06:03 PM
csmiffy

Instead of removing metal I am also going to try a thin metal packer glued in the front of the mag box as long as the cartridge length is ok. Then I don't have to remove any from the feed ramp @FRST yup I tend to agree with you.
The projectile is obviously touching just ahead of that
23-01-2022, 07:32 PM
csmiffy

2 Attachment(s)

The process carrie's on.
Funny story, took the presses steel floorplate from the recent 8x57 acquisition and tried it in the parker hale.
Yeah nah. The bullet rubbing didnt change but the last round off the follower gets jammed and dog knotted like a bastard as per the pic.
For shitz and gigs I tried the 270 follower in the 8x57 and it worked mint.
Put the pressed steel one back where it come from and yup, last round gets stuck again.
It did work once but didnt try too much as the case is a bitch to get out
Looks like I may be up for at least one follower lol
Photos worked on my phone. Didnt try the puter this time
From the pics it there is a wear pattern half way up the side of the 270 follower but that wear mark is there but very light on the pressed steel on. Just hasn't had the same amount of use but profile must be a bit dodgy

Attachment 188652

Attachment 188653
23-01-2022, 07:37 PM
Micky Duck

I got to have a play with my old Zastava .308 today....it will jam up too...BUT if we placed rounds carefully centered it feeds fine,too far back and bolt will ride over,too far forward and will jam.....spring felt weak...but when we placed rounds in centerally,no worries or issues at all....the four loads were all pointy splitzers.
24-01-2022, 06:52 AM
csmiffy

First 3 rounds are ok (8x57 follower) but the last one gets stuck between the follower and the feed rail
The follower profile somehow just isnt right.
Didnt measure with verniers as it could be bugger all but the visually the eyeometer suggest it isnt miles different.
As posted it did it in both actions so it is a it of a dog I reckon.
24-01-2022, 08:40 AM
Moa Hunter

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

First 3 rounds are ok (8x57 follower) but the last one gets stuck between the follower and the feed rail
The follower profile somehow just isnt right.
Didnt measure with verniers as it could be bugger all but the visually the eyeometer suggest it isnt miles different.
As posted it did it in both actions so it is a it of a dog I reckon.

Easy fix then with a follower that works that can be copied. The height of the step makes a huge difference - the higher it is the more the rounds point to the centre. Often one side feeds fine and the other jams or flicks up
24-01-2022, 02:24 PM
csmiffy

Yup. Not going to muck with the pressed steel jobbie.
Think you might see an ad in the buy sell section.
24-01-2022, 09:20 PM
Micky Duck

so its doing one of two things on last round...too far left,or too far right...adding small bit of "something"temperarily will fix the to far left thing.....possibly laying a layer of say milk bottle/carton in the low side of follower may fix the too far to right thing??? by lifting cartridge tiny bit it SHOULD be closer to centre...maybe....
25-01-2022, 02:24 PM
csmiffy

@Micky Duck ,Von Gruff has put up a handy post on another forum about bullet stacking and relation to followers
Havent got around to trying it just yet but be interesting to find out

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