Hawkins hunter mag feeding issue

[WKR]

I've just had really bad luck with the hawkins hunter mags, albeit I'm not using their bottom metal.

I have a kelbly nanook set up with an APA bottom metal that feeds amazingly with aics mags, never had a problem. But I wanted to give the hunter mags a shot for the flush magazine aspect.
I can get the rounds to feed but I have to really slam the bolt forward, which I dont like for follow up shots and staying on target.

The rounds are loaded long but still have atleast 30-40 thou clearance, and like I said run flawless in a no binder plate aics. It seems like with the hunter mag they hang up on the feed ramp and need extra force to angle up and into the chamber. I'm not sure if anyone has a remedy to this problem?

I won't use the hawkins bottom metal, I think putting the mag release inside the trigger well is a bad idea. If thats the only solution then ill just stick to aics mags.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I have the same issue with my wife’s 6.5x47 Lapua. There’s plenty of room in them as I load her rounds to 2.800” but they nose dive and hang up regularly.

I’m considering going to an M5 BDL floor plate and internal box for her setup since it’s a more traditional hunting rifle look.


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[HandgunHTR]

Try bending the front of the feed lips up just a hair. That should help.

 

[Mag_7s]

Interesting. My Hawkins Hunter DBM is by far the best feeding rifle i own (Hawkins bottom metal). Just wish the magazine was a little tighter when empty though. My 6.5x47 with Hawkins orbendorf bottom metal with wyatts box and follower is my worst feeding rifle. I couldn't get that to feed at all . I ended up buying Wyatts magazine tuning book and that helped a lot.

 

[WKR]

Try bending the front of the feed lips up just a hair. That should help.

I'm not sure you can tune the feed lips on the hunter mag?

 

[Brucebarker024]

I'm not sure you can tune the feed lips on the hunter mag?

You can’t bend them, however I took a file to mine for my 7 SAUM loaded looong in a short action. I would be surprised if I had more than 10-15 thou of room. After filing the lips it feeds much better.

 

[Shortschaf]

+1 for filing/sanding
Cant bend them. Aluminum construction. Good luck, sanding worked for a friend of mine

 

[Kimber7man]

I had the same issue on my hunt. Second round down took a nose dive and I couldn’t get it chambered quickly.

 

[Kurts86]

I have had some feeding issues with mine but they were mostly limited to not having a notched feed ramp. Now they feed better but they aren’t tunable the way other AICS mags are because as mentioned they are machined aluminum. If I recall they also have no taper along the feed lips where a lot of AICS mags do have a slight taper front to back.

All AICS pattern mags have enough variation and assumed tuning rifle to rifle that they aren’t always drop in. Keep a few different brands on hand and figure out what works or tune it to work.

 

[Kimber7man]

I’m going to disassemble mine to stretch the spring and then see if that helps.