Tikka 223 magazine feeding issues

[ElPollo]

To this day my biggest issue is now cases hanging up on the case mouth when entering the chamber. Happens with all factory ammo a small chamfer on the chamber would entirely solve this. For now a small case mouth chamfer is the solution. Does anyone have a photo of a factory tikka chamber?

I was having this happen occasionally with factory mags and regularly with single feeds dropped in from the top on the factory mags. My expensive Waters mags resolved these issues. Take home is that I would be cautious on opening up the ramp or chamber because I don’t think that is ultimately the reason for the issue.

 

[Chris_in_Idaho]

So far I haven’t had any issues with rounds from the magazine failing to chamber (assuming the bolt picks them up), but if I try to drop a single round in through the ejection port it 100% gets stuck nose against the breech face.

 

[Formidilosus]

So far I haven’t had any issues with rounds from the magazine failing to chamber (assuming the bolt picks them up), but if I try to drop a single round in through the ejection port it 100% gets stuck nose against the breech face.

Have you stretched the magazine spring?

 

[rbutcher1234]

Stretch the mag spring, start paying more attention to mags after a season or two of use, and just be prepared to replace as needed. Mags get damaged being dropped, used, and abused. Just part of it.

FWIW, I had way more feeding issues with 223 aics accurate mags than factory tikka mags, so I pulled my 223 out of a bravo stock and back into the factory stock because of it.

 

[Chris_in_Idaho]

Have you stretched the magazine spring?

Not yet, I think the previous issue I had was probably because of the gummy sizing lube on the cases as you had pointed out. Thanks for that.

This reply about the rounds nosing against the face of the barrel when I drop them in through the ejection port I would think is unrelated to the magazine. But I could definitely be wrong.

I wasn't really trying to call that a problem, just adding a data point to the issue Stocky and ElPollo were discussing. I should have quoted.

 

[Formidilosus]

This reply about the rounds nosing against the face of the barrel when I drop them in through the ejection port I would think is unrelated to the magazine. But I could definitely be wrong.

I wasn't really trying to call that a problem, just adding a data point to the issue Stocky and ElPollo were discussing. I should have quoted.

Oh that’s a problem. You should absolutely be able to drop a round in the chamber and it feed. It’s usually because the front of the follower isn’t up all the way. Is it a factory stock and bottom metal?


The Tikka 223 mags seemed to start having issues about two years ago. Not sure what happened, and it’s not all of them-but it’s happening often enough that I’ve seen it with quite a few. The 4 rounders are better than the 6 rounders overall. I still have 2-3 original mags from 2013 or so that feed perfectly, but about 30-50% of new mags seemed to need to be tweaked. A lot, or most issues seem to be with non factory stocks and bottom metal- quite a few of the guns/mags that i have seen give issues, worked fine when everything was put back to factory.

 

[PaulDogs]

Oh that’s a problem. You should absolutely be able to drop a round in the chamber and it feed. It’s usually because the front of the follower isn’t up all the way. Is it a factory stock and bottom metal?


The Tikka 223 mags seemed to start having issues about two years ago. Not sure what happened, and it’s not all of them-but it’s happening often enough that I’ve seen it with quite a few. The 4 rounders are better than the 6 rounders overall. I still have 2-3 original mags from 2013 or so that feed perfectly, but about 30-50% of new mags seemed to need to be tweaked. A lot, or most issues seem to be with non factory stocks and bottom metal- quite a few of the guns/mags that i have seen give issues, worked fine when everything was put back to factory.

Any updates on extended use with the mambamags?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

Any updates on extended use with the mambamags?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a whole lot of rounds (relatively) but the one I have is feeding fantastically.

 

[Stocky]

I was having this happen occasionally with factory mags and regularly with single feeds dropped in from the top on the factory mags. My expensive Waters mags resolved these issues. Take home is that I would be cautious on opening up the ramp or chamber because I don’t think that is ultimately the reason for the issue

I'd really like to see a factory chamber as the rifles done it from New with 4 different magazines both plastic and metal lipped.

 

[DJW51]

These Waters Rifleman 223 mags work slick as snot.

Would you say they are worth the money and effort? This is such an aggravating issue. Not only the feeding issues but not being able to mag feed extended coal cartridges is ridiculous. Not sure I can wait for unknown version to come out. Thanks

 

[ElPollo]

Would you say they are worth the money and effort? This is such an aggravating issue. Not only the feeding issues but not being able to mag feed extended coal cartridges is ridiculous. Not sure I can wait for unknown version to come out. Thanks

Worth it depends on you and your needs. As far as I know, the Waters are the only option that offers extended COAL and does not use the problematic factory magazine spring. If you want to load long there are limited options. Honestly though, I haven’t used mine enough to tell you how they work long term. I’ve got about 700 rounds a piece through three mags. But that’s well past where the factory mags started to fail. Mine are factory length, not extended.

 

[DJW51]

Worth it depends on you and your needs. As far as I know, the Waters are the only option that offers extended COAL and does not use the problematic factory magazine spring. If you want to load long there are limited options. Honestly though, I haven’t used mine enough to tell you how they work long term. I’ve got about 700 rounds a piece through three mags. But that’s well past where the factory mags started to fail. Mine are factory length, not extended.

So far would you say that feeding issues are non existent or just greatly diminished with the waters mag. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Lawnboi]

Iv got a ton of rounds through my waters. No issues. Very nice mags.

 

[DJW51]

Iv got a ton of rounds through my waters. No issues. Very nice mags.

Ok thank you. sounds like the solution.

 

[longrangelead]

A couple days ago I was talking with a guy well versed in Tikkas and the mag issue.

The issue seems to stem from the feed lip angle. From what I see, the 223 is just the right size in stagger stack configuration, the top round is pushed up against the feed lip and the next round down create a force nearly perpendicular to the bottom lip of the feed rail the case is touching.

white line is general load angle against feed lip through top two cases.


I messed with a couple other ideas to create a different angle to deflect the top cartridge enough it couldn't hang up.
As is usually the case, the simplest solution has worked the best.

Right at the forward end of the feed lip, there is a rib that runs down inside the mag. I scuffed the feed lip and top ⅛" of the rib and put a drop of super glue there to "bridge" the angle change.
In effect, this shallows the angle by about 15 degrees so the top cartridge can't get caught. By simply forcing the shoulder into the center of the mag, the body follows not having enough surface area to get stuck.



So far it works on 4 and 6 rnd mags, mag after mag after mag. I've not had a single fail to feed after about an hour of just load mags, cycle through gun on the bench.
As far as longevity, I can see it being fairly long term as the only time anything touches the glue is as the cartridge comes up and moves to the center feed position. As the cartridge is stripped from the mag, it only touches the very corners of the feed lips. There is never really any load or abrasion on the glue.

 

[NSI]

This is a big deal. Thanks for doing the work.

-J

 

[prairieboy]

something defiantly changed since the early days of the t3. Ive had 4 6 round 223 mags go bad. Beretta canada couldnt fix them so they replaced them. Very reluctantly the last time i might add. Stretching the weak ass spring did nothing. The rounds do not get lifted up against the feed lips in the rear.

I also have some sako a7s, smaller calibers with fine but my 300 win mag will not lift the rear of the round if you try and top the mag off with the bolt closed. They replaced both of my mags twice, no difference. Piss poor week springs, which make to feeding oh so smooth, but........

I have had a waters mag for tikka 223 since he started making them, a gen 1, its still fine, much stronger spring, also have some 3dmags out of alberta 8 rounders, work fine also, but a buddy had one self destruct leaving it on the dash of a truck in the sun.

 

[Castle Rock]

It seems like beretta USA is ripping you lot off with inferior magazines.
Tikka 223s sold in the rest of the world come with magazines that have steel feed lips and have no issues