ProMag Archangel Short Action Stock 6.5 Creedmoor rounds not feeding well
I got a good deal on the short action Archangel stock for my 6.5 Creedmoor. I think the action is maybe 2 years old. Originally a Model 10 factory 243 Win or maybe it was a 308 Win, removable magazine, center feed setup with the bottom bolt release.
In testing feeding and function I could hardly close the bolt. I thought maybe I hadn't shortened the WAY too long front action screw enough, but it was sitting just below the peaks of the threads in the action. I eventually figured out it was the bolt handle rubbing on the stock on the front side. Easy fix. Next I went to checking round feeding. Sadly, I could never cycle 10 rounds without at least one nose diving down where the tip of the bullet hit the breech face and thus halted the forward movement of the bolt. If I let loose of the pressure on the bolt handle, most of the time the round would lay flat and allow me to close the bolt. Sometimes I had to jiggle the bolt a bit to chamber the round. Cycling the bolt as fast as I could didn't work, though the failure rate was lower. Every speed in between, also no good. Cycling VERY slowly on the closing stroke would usually allow me to chamber and eject 10 rounds without a jamb. For me, this performance is unacceptable, though admit that I do live with crappy feeding from a few of my old blind mag stagger feed Savages. I had hoped this setup would work flawlessly with the Creedmoor. I like the stock just fine otherwise.
This thread below is one reason I bought the stock due to the positive comments about reliable feeding on the 6.5 Creedmoor.
https://www.savageshooters.com/showt...-action-6-5-cm
I tried 2 different bullets - 139 OTM Scenars and 129 plastic tip Amax, no difference. I bought several extra 10 and 7/5 round mags, they all do the same thing. I also tried longer and shorter seating depth, no difference. Usually I will get at last 2 jams out of 10, quite often 3, sometimes as many as 5 out of ten. I do think that a magazine designed just for the 6.5 Creedmoor is likely the only fix for this problem, but thought I would check here to see if anyone else has had the same trouble and perhaps found a fix for it.
Two more of my actions that work with the 6.5 Creedmoor
I had a long center feed action sitting in my Savage parts tub so I figured what the heck, see if it will feed the 6.5 Creedmoor. Sure enough, feeds 100% so far. Which lead me to testing an old flat back staggered feed internal mag 110, and was surprised to find that it too would feed the 6.5 CM 100%. That same flat back action also feeds 22-250 Ackley very well. I seem to recall adjusting the feed lips on it about 20 years ago so it would function with the 22-250 AI.
When I first started in on trying to get a reliable 6.5 CM it looked like it was not going to work, but with some further testing, including actions you would normally not think of using for the 6.5 CM, I have now ended up with the following that all work very well:
- Short Action Center Feed that was born as a 300 WSM (This is the only one that works in the short Arachangel stock which was my original desire.)
- Short Action Staggered Feed, very old flat back that was originally a 308 Win i believe.
- Long Action Center Feed that was likely a 30-06 originally (Probably the best candidate for a reliable 6.5 Creedmoor in an Archangel long action stock.)
- Long Action Staggered Feed - old, flat back that was probably a magnum of some kind
I am going to get a long action Archangel to try as well since my goal was to end up with two reliable mag fed 6.5 CMs in Archangels stocks, and two lightweight hunting rifles that would feed at least 4 rounds reliably from a removable or blind mag.