Can a magazine box hurt accuracy

[ngoforth]

I read on another forum that the Ruger m77 magazine box can be wedged in so tight that it can put pressure on the action hurting consistency and accuracy. Is this possible?

 

[Prose]

I think so, specifically yes with the ruger, but also true for any firearm that has stress induced on the action or barrel.

If you have to bend metal to get it together, chances are accuracy is suffering.

 

[ngoforth]

I have a m77 mkii v/t in .243. it has never been accurate or consistent. I would be mad and happy at the same time if something as simple as a magazine box is affecting accuracy. I looked at mine and it was tight, i took it out and will try it as soon as I can.

 

[Lapua40X]

I would expect that if you could jam a magazine in tight enough to torque the action you'd have to pound it in with a hammer. Just my 2 cents.

 

[BoydAllen]

Those who have played with the middle screws of actions, the ones that secure the fronts of trigger guards have found that if they over tighten them accuracy suffers, so they tighten them just snug.

If the rest of the rifle is right, very small things can upset the apple cart. Several times friends have had issues after doing what, to the uneducated eye, would appear to be a very nice looking bedding job, something into which the action could be tightened without noticing anything was amiss. Upon inspection I would find and fix some little problem area, usually by removing some material from an action screw hole, or removing an unintended "secondary recoil lug" and with that small change, the expected accuracy was achieved. Small things that seem insignificant can have major effects.

 

[Hal]

One of the things guys look for on the Kimber Montana rifles, if they won't shoot is clearance around the mag box.

 

[ngoforth]

It has been a personal challenge to get this rifle to shoot better, but also a learning experience. I did send it back to ruger once and they put a new barrel on it and it has improved a bit. I have never expected more than moa accuracy out of it. When i read about the mag box i have my hopes up to see some improvement.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

With a repeater you should be able to move the mag box when the rifle is assembled. If not then it is trapped between the action and bottom metal. We want to trap the stock between the action and bottom metal not the mag box.

 

[tcob68]

Why couldn't you take the magazine box out and shoot a group just single feeding it? With nothing there to bind, it should tell you if your headed in the right direction.

 

[danny]

I bought a nearly new, used Ruger 77 VT .223. Right off the bat I noticed that the magazine box was squeezed between the action and bottom metal. I bought a replacement and milled a couple of spots to create some clearance and allow it to move for the time being with the factory bedding I put the original away for when the stock might later be bedded correctly.

Danny

 

[js2013]

Besides the mag binding against the action I wonder what effect magazine feeding would have on bullet runout.

 

[ngoforth]

When I first read about it i checked the magazine box and then removed it before I posted here figuring it wasn't going to hurt either way. I never used the magazine anyway. Unfortunately my local range is closed for the rest of the week for cowboy action shooters so it will be next week before I get a chance to try it. With my limited knowledge i never would have thought about checking to see how tight the magazine was.

 

[Shynloco]

When I first read about it i checked the magazine box and then removed it before I posted here figuring it wasn't going to hurt either way. I never used the magazine anyway. Unfortunately my local range is closed for the rest of the week for cowboy action shooters so it will be next week before I get a chance to try it. With my limited knowledge i never would have thought about checking to see how tight the magazine was.

Pay attention to Boyd Allen's comments. Between my sons and I, we have 5 - M77 MkII's that all shoot unbelievable groups. All have also been "worked" and have Kreiger barrels (and after-market triggers) making them as strong and competitive with a couple Remington 700 custom builds also having Kreiger barrels. I shoot mine from the Benchrest position and hand feed each round rather than using the magazine port. I also read about people complaining about Rugers all the time and I long ago learned there are two kinds of Rugers, good ones and bad ones. Guess I must have the good ones, but then again, I've found some folks blame the rifle and are just barking up the wrong tree.

Alex

 

[johnfred1965]

I

It has been a personal challenge to get this rifle to shoot better, but also a learning experience. I did send it back to ruger once and they put a new barrel on it and it has improved a bit. I have never expected more than moa accuracy out of it. When i read about the mag box i have my hopes up to see some improvement.[/QUOTE

I haven't checked mine for binding, but you should expect better than MOA accuracy. I have the same rifle in 243, and my varmint loads group at .5 inch at 100, and my best group at 300 was 1/3 MOA with 105 amax's

 

[johnfred1965]

don't know why that came up as your quote, but you get the idea

 

[ngoforth]

I think the best group I have shot was with 88 grain bergers. It may have been a bit under an inch at 100 yards. I have never been able to do it again.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Pay attention to Boyd Allen's comments. Between my sons and I, we have 5 - M77 MkII's that all shoot unbelievable groups. All have also been "worked" and have Kreiger barrels (and after-market triggers) making them as strong and competitive with a couple Remington 700 custom builds also having Kreiger barrels. I shoot mine from the Benchrest position and hand feed each round rather than using the magazine port. I also read about people complaining about Rugers all the time and I long ago learned there are two kinds of Rugers, good ones and bad ones. Guess I must have the good ones, but then again, I've found some folks blame the rifle and are just barking up the wrong tree.

Alex

I have one in a 25/06 and like Alex I must have got a real good one. I bedded mine and lightened the trigger. Other than that nothing else done to it. It shoots really well. You need to do what Boyd Allen said about the screws also.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I read on another forum that the Ruger m77 magazine box can be wedged in so tight that it can put pressure on the action hurting consistency and accuracy. Is this possible?

Great consistent groups require great ammo (hand loads tuned to the rifle & brass prep)

 

[Shynloco]

Great consistent groups require great ammo (hand loads tuned to the rifle & brass prep)

Generally speaking, I'd agree with that. HOWEVER, there are times when the application (special circumstance such as in Law Enforcement situations - handloads are forbidden in an actual callout) may determine what ammo you use. To that extent, Federal Premium Match, was the "go to" ammo and you best find commercial ammo that performs the best in your particular rifle. I found the Fed Match in .308 was a close second to handloads and often made the shooter look really good when necessary. SO remember also, not all handloaders are really good at finding the loads that give them 1's and 2's. Fed Premuim usually gave us 2's and 3's @ 100 - 120 yds when called upon. But like the man said, if you want to compete serious, do the handload route.

Alex

 

[rogn]

Ive often wondered about the effect of a fully loaded magazine having pressure on the bottom of a bolt. Some replaceable mags can be hard to seat when they are loaded to capacity. Just as some integral box magazines can, when loaded to capacity, put considerable pressure on the bolt.