fratri

I have a .223 Stevens and "have" the same problem, it may be from stripping the rifle down for complete cleaning when it was new or from the factory or shipping and handling which caused the magazine to "drop" downward. As soon as I read the post I tore the rifle down to take the photos below.

Below are photos of the bottom of the receiver and the magazine, the red arrows are where the forward part of the magazine rests or touches the bottom of the receiver. The white arrows are where the magazine lips are tapered to fit "inside" the receiver magazine opening.

[img width=600 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/IMGP7532-A.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/IMGP7540.jpg[/img]

Now look at how far up and down the magazine can move or drop away from the bottom of the receiver. The magazine needs to be "up" and inside the 1/8 step cut and touching the bottom of the receiver, or failure to feeds will happen.

[img width=600 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/IMGP7534.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=450]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/IMGP7535.jpg[/img]

NOTICE: No Savage/Stevens rifles were hurt or injured during the filming of this posting. ;D