1903 won't feed if more than one in magazine

[gt2003]

I tried the search function and nothing came up so here it goes! I inherited a Savage 1903 in pretty good condition. I'd love to shoot it as it's designed. Here's my problem. When there is more than one cartridge in the magazine, it won't load the top cartridge into the chamber. I did a little detective work, took it apart and found that this part



just catches the rim of the 2nd cartridge in the magazine, pushes it into the "block" right below the chamber and won't let the top cartridge feed into the magazine. It doesn't hang down that low when the rifle is assembled but it hangs down just enough to catch the 2nd cartridge. Here's about how low it hangs when rifle is assembled



I'm sure I'm not the only this has happened to so what's the fix? I was thinking if I had a gunsmith taper the end that is catching the 2nd cartridge that the problem would be solved as the metal piece would, in theory, just slide over the 2nd cartridge instead of catching on it. However, I don't know enough about the inner workings on the rifle to know if this would affect how it works overall. Thoughts?

[Sav22]

From what I can see in your pictures the part hanging down appears to be the rear 2/3 of the firing pin - the front is broken off & missing. I assume you have not tried to fire this gun - if you have and it fired then I am wrong about what I see in the picture and the rest of this post would then be of no use.

I will continue assuming the firing pins is broken as it appears to be in your pictures.

There is a small slot in the firing pin that is held up by a small pin through the receiver - yours appears broken off through this slot so it does not engage the pin. New firing pins are listed on GunParts (Numrich) but a person ordering one got a version for a late style bolt and it will not work in your bolt and I do not think one could be made to work - you would have to talk to them to try and see if they have the correct pin if you go that route.

A complete late style bolt should fit so that would be another option. There were several changes to the firing pins & bolts in these over the years.

[gt2003]

Thank you! You are 100% correct. I took the rifle out right after work this evening and tried to fire a couple of cartridges through it...NOTHING! No marks on the rim's of the cartridges or anything. Is there anyway I will KNOW which firing pin will fit for sure? I'll also look for a bolt assembly and see if I can come up with one that way. I'll call numrich's etc. I'll find one of these babies somewhere. I ordered an extra magazine from Bob's but didn't see firing pins listed on his sight. The search continues.

[gt2003]

I went ahead and ordered one from Numrich's this evening. I'm going to call in the morning with my rifle serial # and see if that helps them any. I really don't want to get something I don't need so hopefully that will help. Then it's time to take it and have the gunsmith do his thing! Hopefully I'll have it up and shooting in no time!

[gt2003]

I got a replacement firing pin from Numrich's. I got the old one out but when comparing, noticed the new one was a few millimeters thicker than the old one. So, I took it to the gunsmith yesterday. I'm expecting to have it by the coming weekend. Can't wait to shoot this thing!!