110 243 magazine spring and follower question

I have a model 110 long action 243 I recently picked up used from a local gunshop. Its in excellent condition and at $230 I couldn't pass it up for a cheap varmint gun. However a week or so after buying it I was messing with it and decided to feed a few shells through it. Anyway long story short between me and the local gun shop I can not seem to get the gun to load all the shells correctly. The back of the shell pushes down and the bolt rides right over it but not every time. I noticed when I had it apart the spring on the follower was bent up like someone had messed with it. Looked completely different than the one in my 270. So I tried to bend it to match the 270 but still no luck. I've never had this issue out of a savage but in doing some reading it looks like maybe I need a new spring and follower? Possibly the spring is just wore out? And if so where can I find one and specifically what one do I want? I've seen them listed as long action, 30-06 length and short action which I assume not to be right. They are all out of stock everywhere I've looked also. Secondly when it does catch the shell it seems to shove the bullet into the bottom on the chamber pretty hard before it pops up and rides in. Is this normal? Its actually kinda smashing the tip of a soft point bullet I was running in it and I didn't think Id want that on a vmax or something! Thank you!

Could the follower be in backwards? My 243 was when I got it second hand. Also, your mag box should have a divider in it, for short action length cartridges. It could be that you got a rifle that has a swapped barrel, but the wrong magazine box - hence the smoking deal. My action has about a 1" shelf at the rear, unmachined, where a 30/06 length rifle would be machined out. If you need pics let me know.

The follower is in correctly. I checked it against my 270 and some online schematics. Im gonna go ahead and asume theres no divider though or nothing I would consider a divider. And ya Im not sure what you mean about the shelf in the rear either. If it has been rebarreled am I SOL or is there a way to make it work?

Ok I checked it against my 270 and now I see what your saying about the shelf. On my 243 there is an unmachined shelf that stick out in twords the magazine about an inch(roughly) where as with the 270 its about flush with the bolt opening in the receiver so that parts good. I am curious what the magazine well outta look like though

I tore mine apart and double checked, I was wrong about there being a divider in it, I'll upload pics in a bit.
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/...psuwszb3ss.jpg
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/...psufdldgtd.jpg

Thank you very much! Ya looks just like mine! Atleast I have the right action! That's good to see anyway lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yotehtr1

I have a model 110 long action 243 I recently picked up used from a local gunshop.

---

Per chance does you action and magazine look like this....
http://i40.tinypic.com/333g3si.jpg

If so its a LA configured as a SA. They're machined to use a SA staggered feed magazine and use an extension on the rear of the front baffle to shorten the bolt throw.

Bill

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/...psc34bdf01.jpg

Looks the same to me I think. This is mine 243 shell up top and 270 at the bottom. What extension are you talking about and whats the front baffle? sorry but im not up on any of the terminology.

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/...ps38bc774b.jpg

that's what my spring and follower looks like. it was really twisted and stretched way out when I first took the gun apart. I tried to match it to my 270 best I could. its not right but its a lot closer. maybe I just need to work on the spring more?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yotehtr1

What extension are you talking about and whats the front baffle? sorry but im not up on any of the terminology.

---

http://i44.tinypic.com/t9cupj.jpg

The front baffle is the part behind the lugs in this picture, The baffle shown is one with the extension.

BTW, if the roll stamping on the barrel (Savage Arms, caliber, etc) are just above the edge of the stock chances are pretty good the barrel hasn't been changed.

Bill

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6a4f81da.jpg

ya this is my bolt so apparently it has the extension too. I notice its different than my 270. The 270 bolt isn't like that. And ya the stamping on the barrel is just above the stock edge right where ive always seen it on savages. There is a difference in the shading of the bluing between the barrel and action though but Im not sure if one or the other was reblued at some time or if they are different materials. I had a Remington 700 like that years ago and was told it was factory on some of the old ones due to a different material but that may not be true just what I was told

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7c32f651.jpg

There you can see the shading difference between the action and barrel

Well I think I have it feeding correctly now!! Ive been tweaking on the magazine spring the whole time here and I have it now 9 rounds in a row feeding in nice and smooth, the nose of the bullet entering the chamber without mashing, catching every round, and ejecting every round very nicely!!!!!!! So Im thinking it was just the spring. Thank you very much for helping me make sure everything else was ok! Now just outta curiousity is there a particular replacement spring for this? I would like to order a spare if I can find one. Is there a difference in the spring for long/ short action? And which would I want? Short action magazine well correct so if there is a difference I would want short action right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yotehtr1

would like to order a spare if I can find one. Is there a difference in the spring for long/ short action? And which would I want? Short action magazine well correct so if there is a difference I would want short action right?

---

Order the parts, magazine, follower and follower spring for a staggered feed short action (10,11, etc) for the 243,7-08 and 308 cartridges.

Bill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BillPa

Order the parts, magazine, follower and follower spring for a staggered feed short action (10,11, etc) for the 243,7-08 and 308 cartridges.

Bill

---

Ok thanks for all the help!

First thread I've ever found on this. I have a Savage chambered in a 7mm with the same exact problem. I've worked the spring countless times to no avail. I've searched every where for parts with no luck. This helps me a little though. I need to look and see if it's backwards but I don't have any reference as to which way is right. If you happen to find the follower, spring and/or New mag box please post links. Thanks in advance.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufact...dFox-33479.htm

This might help find the replacement parts

I've looked there. The follower and spring have been "sold out" for months. I consider that to be not available...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-model...item5af944ab93

This is a new old stock item on ebay right now. now it has a coil spring instead of the W shaped leaf type. Maybe some of these other guys can say for sure if it would work. Don't know how much help that is

http://www.brownells.com/schematics/...ng-sid335.aspx

And heres a link to a schematic. Brownells has a bunch of schematics. This is for a 110 should be right but they have others as well

Thanks. I'll do some research on that...

I would look at the feed lips. If your feed lips ( where magazine tapers inward and hold case) are not bent correctly they will either hold the cartridge nose up, case head down (therefore bolt riding over the top) or nose down, case head up ( bolt will push cartridge forward but will hit below the chamber). Need to tweek the lips so the case sits slightly nose up and the bolt able to catch it. I use wide mouth pliers with smooth jaws, but you can always buy a feed lip tool from brownells. Spring looks fine, problem probably why the rifle was sold so cheap. Good grab..