AICS Mag tough to feed

[Eurodriver]

I got a PTG DBM, Badger bolt knob, and an AICS mag for my Rem700 build this week.

It was professionally installed and the bolt is right where it should be when feeding rounds from the magazine.

However, especially with a full mag, the bolt is pretty tough to cycle. I've read that it appears to be pretty common to remove some material/bend the feed lips for the first 1/4" or so of the magazine in order to smooth out the operations. I think this is pretty ****ing retarded considering I spent $80 on the magazine alone and $300+ on the DBM. Is this true? I mean, it has to be something because the bolt is no where near as smooth as I would like it to be.

Let's just assume for sake of argument the DBM is installed correctly - because it is.

[pyrotechnic]

Try leaving the mag loaded untill the next range session. A friend of mine has a 700sps in an element chassis that has the same issue when he fully loads his 10rnd AICS mag. It's getting better with time. Altering geometry on the magazine seems like a bad idea.

[taliv]

i also am shocked at how many long range guys futz with the feed lips on their magazines. i never have and think it's a horrible idea. granted, polishing them is reasonable. but i don't bend them.

there are actually some pretty nifty tools for bending feed lips.

i shot an ackley for many many years, and the straighter walls on that case made it somewhat stiff to put 10 rounds in an AICS mag. in combination, the early bighorn action i had wasn't machined correctly on the feed port, so it pushed the lips in and the result was for the first year or two i ran with 9 rounds in the mag. i returned it and got it fixed. and was able to run 10 comfortably. the top one is pretty tight though.

if you're using a standard tapered cartridge like 308 or creedmoor or whatever, and you're having trouble with the 10th round, something is probably not right. but normally there is definitely a little more friction with a full mag. it shouldn't be difficult to cycle though, just more friction.

[georgeib]

Why not just cut a coil off the mag spring?

[Eurodriver]

I just spent a while inspecting it. The magazine is straight. The round is pointed right at the middle of the feed ramp. Everything looks perfect, but I'm telling you that I barely have the strength to shove that first round forward. It is so damn difficult. It's not getting hung up on the rifle or anything, the round is just stuck in the magazine. In order to generate enough leverage I have to put the barrel on the floor and shove the bolt forward putting all of my body weight into it.

ETA: I just did some googling and ended up sanding the feed lips very slightly. No more gouges in my brass, appears to be feeding smoothly now, and no rounds are popping out when the mag is full. How irritating for a $400 setup.

[trinydex]

Why not just cut a coil off the mag spring?

nobody likes this guy's idea

[Eurodriver]

nobody likes this guy's idea

Because it doesn't apply, and the magazine was made excellent by sanding down the scoring under the feed lips.

[georgeib]

nobody likes this guy's idea

Because it doesn't apply, and the magazine was made excellent by sanding down the scoring under the feed lips.

Yup. I had assumed that the difficulty in inserting rounds was due to the mag spring being fully compressed and physically preventing additional rounds going in. Didn't realize that it was just poor quality fit and finish on the mag body.

Either way, something that should have been addressed before shipping to the customer. Especially on an $80 magazine.

[Eurodriver]

Either way, something that should have been addressed before shipping to the customer. Especially on an $80 magazine.

No kidding! I thought for sure my smith messed up the install, but with PMAGs working great and the AICS working great after the modification I can't blame that. Additionally, Google will reveal many people saying they too had to sand their AICS mags on Sniper's Hide - where I got the idea.

[georgeib]

The magazine spring is too long, not leaving enough room for all the rounds even when fully compressed. If you cut off a coil, it will solve your problem.