New Winchester Featherweight - Feeding Issues

frog stealer

frog stealer

AH enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
493
Reaction score
593
Location
Naperville, IL
Media
5
Hunting reports
Africa
2
Hunted
South Africa
Hello all,

I'm trying to see if any of you can help me out with some feeding issues.

I purchased a brand-new Winchester M70 Featherweight Compact in .243 Winchester for deer season this year. The rifle shoots good, but when feeding a round that is on the left side of the staggered magazine, the bullet tip will hit to the right of the chamber opening. This only happens when the round is on the left side, when feeing from the right, they feed just fine.

I thought maybe this issue was specific to the bullet shape, but it happens with both bullets my rifle shoots the best, Barnes TSX and Sierra Pro Hunters. I tried stretching the magazine spring to provide more mag tension, and that didn't seem to matter. When pushing the magazine follower down, I note some slight dragging near the front, but it doesn't seem like it drags enough to cause feeding issues.

If any of you have had this experience before, or can provide recommendations on how to fix it, I'm all ears!
 
Is your magazine box pinched between the bottom metal and the receiver? There should be a slight amount of play. Another thing could be feed lips that are misaligned. Other than taking the box out and looking at it, you can also watch through the ejection port to see where the rim becomes captured by the bolt, left vs right, to see if they are different.
 
I recently had similar issue pop up (or rather fail to pop up) cycling my 404 that I built on Czech 98 Mauser. I did the conversion including modifying the feeding rails, loading ramp, follower, and extractor. It sounds like your left rail is out of adjustment or, hopefully, the loading ramp. However, I am not inclined to advise you re possible modifications. If it's the rail, there is no advice I could give you because there's nothing you could or should do to try and fix it. My problem involved a number of issues. Chiefly, the ramp was modified for the wrong OAL cartridges. A minor carving of a bit of metal in the right spot of ramp fixed it.

You should not touch that rifle. It should never have left the factory in that condition. Send it back to Winchester.
 
Gomer said:
Is your magazine box pinched between the bottom metal and the receiver? There should be a slight amount of play. Another thing could be feed lips that are misaligned. Other than taking the box out and looking at it, you can also watch through the ejection port to see where the rim becomes captured by the bolt, left vs right, to see if they are different.
Click to expand...
That model has hinged floorplate. He can open the floorplate and look at how the magazine box mates to the receiver. Any overhang where they meet?
 
BlueFlyer said:
Why can't you return it to the shop you purchased it from and get them to fix it? Does not seem to be fit for purpose from the factory.
Click to expand...
Hunting season is just starting here in northern hemisphere. I'm thinking he may be concerned about not getting it fixed or replaced in time to hunt.
 
I had a similar problem with 3 Winchester 70 CRF. My problem was were the spring in magizine was located. It takes some time but push it forward in the feed ramp bottom see how it works if its not OK push it back and try it. Problem is the angle of the cartridge when feeding. Once you find where it feeds properly I took the gun apart and cleaned with alcohol the spring where it goes into the bottom of the ramp. Mixed up some JB Weld and glue it in place.
I've had that problem with 3 Winchester 70 over the years and finding the best feed spot then JB Welding solved my problems.
 
Thanks all for your responses… I took the gun apart and made sure there was no binding with the magazine box, and also checked the feed lips. I didn’t see anything obvious. I will likely send this back to Winchester for repair.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1160 more.
Total: 386,649 (members: 1,210, guests: 385,439)

Forum statistics

Threads
70,424
Messages
1,575,856
Members
170,404
Latest member
DerrickRed
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

H
Hornedfrogbbq wrote on Rhoyland4's profile.
Do you mind me asking what auction you are referencing? I'm not in the market for any of those rifles...just curious.

Frosty in Fort Worth
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Getting some culling done!

•••
K_P
K_P wrote on Buckleyguy12's profile.
Good morning from Montana.

I'm looking at a post from 2018 where you were looking for a lefty Winchester in .375 H&H Magnum. I'm selling mine. My email is [redacted] in the event that you're still searching for a unicorn.

Best,

Kelly Palmer
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Gents, if you book and pay your deposit before the end of this year , you can have the bigger cull package for the 2026 price! https://www.africahunting.com/threa...griffiths-safaris-starting-at-us-2-560.96285/
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
I am currently in Northern Cape scouting a hunting area, we will have lots of amazing hunting opportunities for 2027! I will post updated available dates soon!
•••

Share this page

 
Top