shells stuck in magazine tube

[AlmightyElliott]

Hello THR, long time reader, first time posting. I have run into some trouble with a Winchester Model 1912 12 Gauge shotgun. It seems the shells get stuck in the magazine tube about an inch into the tube from the receiver. To release the stuck shells I can rotate the magazine tube 90 degrees as if I were disassembling the gun, and the shells move right where they are supposed to. I disassembled the magazine tube and cautiously tapped a ring mandrel into it to remove any dents, but the rounds still are sticking. My next step is to take some #0000 steel wool, wrap it around a brass shotgun cleaner and run that with a drill inside the tube to clean up any debris that may be caked in there. I did a search but couldn't find any threads with the same issue. Any advise is appreciated!

 

[samuelcmm]

Have you tried replacing the magazine spring?

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[mbopp]

Factory ammo, or reloads? I have an Ithaca M37 that has an undersized section in the magazine tube near the receiver. Factory shells function OK but reloads with the head diameter approaching max spec causes them to stick.

 

[kawaliga]

I have a Model 12 Winchester that had the same problem. It had a dent in the tube about where the second shell would go. Someone had dropped it on a hard object I guess. I tried driving a mandrel through it, but that never worked out. I just bought a used magazine tube.

 

[Cokeman]

I had to take the dowel out of mine.

 

[AlmightyElliott]

@samuelcmm I haven't tried replacing the spring yet. I ran a test from another thread with a similar issue; I stretched the spring about 4 inches over and reinstalled it. I still had the same issue. The test could be faulty but I still feel a lot of force on the magazine follower. Although, if I have to break down and buy parts, this will probably be the first one.

@mbopp I've tested a few different factory rounds with the same effect. Remington and Federal.

@kawaliga maybe I have a dent further in the tube and the taper of the mandrel wont allow me to reach it. I'll try tapping a wood dowel in it to straighten.

@Cokeman The magazine plug was removed by the previous owner already, is that what you meant by the dowel?

 

[loose noose]

Have you checked the magazine follower, some times they can get out of round and cause the problem you describe.

 

[Kp321]

This is a common problem with older M-12's and 97's. Modern shells have grown over the years compared to the brass/paper shells in use when these shotguns were designed. As you noted, the interrupted threads on the magazine tube distort the tube slightly when tightened thus causing the shells with slightly larger OD rims to hang up. Unless the problem is crud, steel wool is not going to help. I use a brake cylinder hone to remove a few thousandths out of the threaded section of the tube. Also make sure the tube has not gotten 180 degrees out of phase. That can cause the threads to bind and distort the tube.

 

[Dontkillbill]

Inproper take downs over the years squeeze the threads and make the opening smaller. I had the issue with an 1897. The only thing that worked was a new mag tube. I would try the spring first.

 

[Cokeman]

@Cokeman The magazine plug was removed by the previous owner already, is that what you meant by the dowel?

Yes. Mine was made in 1927 and I just removed it a couple of years ago.