NEW Magazine Problem?

Douglas Wozny · May 27, 2009, 08:27

This past weekend went out to do some informal target shooting with my HOWCO Distributor, Inc of Laurel, MD 50.63 FAL Para with 458 mm barrel. FIRST, this rifle has been 100% (AND I DO MEAN 100%) reliable for the past 20 years! My buddy brought along a never been open, still had the sealed plastic bag around it box of 10 NEW FN FAL magazine label for the G1. Open the box and exposed the magazines to daylight for the first time since 1963. Loaded 20 rounds into one, inserted the loaded magazine in the rifle, pushed down on the bolt catch and the bolt carrier/bolt stopped half way home! NOTHING was impeding the cartridge from chambering except being held by the magazine. To make a long story short, tried 3 NEW magazines and all 3 would only feed reiablly with 15 rounds loaded. Didn't want to waste time and ammo so did not try the other 7 seven magazines but now not so sure about these magazines.

Switched to some well used but not abused magazines and the FAL purred like a kitten. And by the way buddy's FALO experienced the same problems.

Survey Punk · May 27, 2009, 08:36

Shot in the dark here. Strip the mags, detail clean and reassemble. Try again.

JB

Scott S · May 27, 2009, 10:07

Look for significant scratches along the side of the spent brass. If you see any scratches, the problem could be sharp edges on the underside of the mag feed lips. The mag spring pressure pushes the rounds into the underside of the mag feed lips. As the bolt tries to strip the rounds from a full or nearly full mag, the mag spring pressure combined with any sharp edges on the feed lips creates enough friction to prevent the bolt/carrier from stripping the rounds completely from the mag. When the mag is downloaded, the mag spring pressure is reduced enough that the bolt/carrier can overcome the friction, even with the sharp feed lips. (This issue also happens with brand new receivers that have sharp edges on the bottom edge of the receiver feed rails.)

To fix, break the sharp edge of the underside of the mag feed lips with a bit of crocus cloth or extra fine grit sandpaper. Go easy--all you want to do is break that sharp edge, not change the feed lip geometry.

Scott S · May 27, 2009, 10:09

Silly me. Ignore my previous post.

Your magazines are obviously ancient and defective. If you'll send them to me (heck, I'll even pay postage) I'll dispose of them properly.

May 27, 2009, 08:27	#1
Douglas Wozny Registered FALaholic #: 4255 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Colorado Springs CO Posts: 367	NEW Magazine Problem? This past weekend went out to do some informal target shooting with my HOWCO Distributor, Inc of Laurel, MD 50.63 FAL Para with 458 mm barrel. FIRST, this rifle has been 100% (AND I DO MEAN 100%) reliable for the past 20 years! My buddy brought along a never been open, still had the sealed plastic bag around it box of 10 NEW FN FAL magazine label for the G1. Open the box and exposed the magazines to daylight for the first time since 1963. Loaded 20 rounds into one, inserted the loaded magazine in the rifle, pushed down on the bolt catch and the bolt carrier/bolt stopped half way home! NOTHING was impeding the cartridge from chambering except being held by the magazine. To make a long story short, tried 3 NEW magazines and all 3 would only feed reiablly with 15 rounds loaded. Didn't want to waste time and ammo so did not try the other 7 seven magazines but now not so sure about these magazines. Switched to some well used but not abused magazines and the FAL purred like a kitten. And by the way buddy's FALO experienced the same problems. __________________ The Wizard Air Dropable AND Ground Recoverable War is an act of force and to the application of that force there is no limit! So say the philosophers (Carl von Clausewitz b 1780 d 1831) of war. Necat omnes! Deus suos agnoscet. The application of the proper amount of high explosives can solve any problem.

May 27, 2009, 08:36	#2
Survey Punk FALaholic #: 8380 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Blounts Creek, NC Posts: 4,160	Shot in the dark here. Strip the mags, detail clean and reassemble. Try again. JB __________________ "If innocence is no protection from the weight of criminal law, a crucial incentive to maintain innocence is lost" Fran Haga

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May 27, 2009, 10:07	#3
Scott S Registered FALaholic #: 355 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,416	Look for significant scratches along the side of the spent brass. If you see any scratches, the problem could be sharp edges on the underside of the mag feed lips. The mag spring pressure pushes the rounds into the underside of the mag feed lips. As the bolt tries to strip the rounds from a full or nearly full mag, the mag spring pressure combined with any sharp edges on the feed lips creates enough friction to prevent the bolt/carrier from stripping the rounds completely from the mag. When the mag is downloaded, the mag spring pressure is reduced enough that the bolt/carrier can overcome the friction, even with the sharp feed lips. (This issue also happens with brand new receivers that have sharp edges on the bottom edge of the receiver feed rails.) To fix, break the sharp edge of the underside of the mag feed lips with a bit of crocus cloth or extra fine grit sandpaper. Go easy--all you want to do is break that sharp edge, not change the feed lip geometry.

May 27, 2009, 10:09	#4
Scott S Registered FALaholic #: 355 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,416	Silly me. Ignore my previous post. Your magazines are obviously ancient and defective. If you'll send them to me (heck, I'll even pay postage) I'll dispose of them properly.