Savage 12: loose blind magazine

[pintler]

I have a new Savage 12FV in .223. This has the blind mag, which looks like the top of a sheet metal mag has been inserted into the stock. I'm going to call that the 'magazine'.

It worked fine for the first trip to the range, where I fired around 50 rounds. On the second trip, I started having issues where the bolt would sometimes impact the rear of the 'magazine', sometimes enough to stop the bolt from going forward. I'd reach in and fiddle around and get it to work.

I thought that the 'magazine' must be held in by a screw that was working loose, but when I disassembled it, I don't see such a screw.

The 'magazine' is indeed loose - you can wobble the top back and forth about a quarter inch, and the back can go up and down maybe a millimeter - enough to block the bolt. I don't see when is retaining the 'magazine', other than being clamped between the action and stock. The front of the 'magazine' will come up farther, but I didn't want to force it.

The screws that hold the action into the stock were tight.

What retains these blind 'magazines'? Does anyone else see that much wobble? Any suggestions for a fix?

 

[Txhillbilly]

There should be a small L shaped bracket attached to the rear of the magazine box. There is a small slot that it fits into on the back of the magazine. if it has come out of the slot, the rear of the magazine can be lifted up from the spring/follower.
You can use some electrical tape around the bracket and magazine box to keep this problem from happening.

 

[Varminterror]

The blind mag box is not screwed to the action nor the stock. There is a metal retaining clip at the rear of the mag box which sandwiches under the action, straddling the rear action screw, which holds the blind mag box in place. Generally, you can push the mag box down and back to re-engage the clip if they slip loose like yours has, but worst case, you spend 10min pulling the action from the stock and replacing it.

Here's how it mounts in the stock

Silver clip at the rear

 

[pintler]

Txhillbilly: that's a hole-in-one! The diagnosis and fix are both spot on, thank you!

 

[Txhillbilly]

You're welcome!