Changed the mag box on my Savage!

[Luckyducker]

As I mentioned in a previous post here this is my first Savage, a model 111 and the mag box was messed up to the point it would throw the third round out of line for straight feed into the chamber.  I didn't realize the box has ears on each end that hold it on the reciever.  I cut my finger getting the old mag off the action and had to use a padded vise to squeeze the new box lengthwise so that I could set the barreled action onto it and then release the pressure with the box in it's proper place.  Then the box was mis-shaped so I put the box in the vice and squeezed the sides back into shape, but it still wasn't straight so I used a plastic headed mallet to beat the box back to a rectangle.  It works fine now but that is an ordeal.  The Rems and Rugers I have messed with have mags that just sit in their proper position by stock inletting.  I won't compain much though since this rifle is so accurate.  Have any here changed one of these?   If so, what method did you use to do the deed?

[LaOtto222]

I changed one on a Stevens 200. I put the action into a vice, padded of course; with the magazine hole up. I bent one of the ears on the magazine up and slipped the other end into the slot. I then bent the straighten ear the best I could with a pair of needle nose pliers to start it into it's slot. After I got a little bend on it, I put a block of wood on the bottom of the magazine and drove it into the slot with a hammer. As I drove it down, it bent back into the slot. I am not sure if that is the way to do it, but it worked. I tried to figure out a way to slide it in from the side, but that just was not going to work.

[Luckyducker]

LO222, probably everybody tries to slide it in from the side, I know I went at it that way first but......

[pdog06]

when taking it out

put the action upside down in a padded vise or something secure. Get a flathead screwdriver and a hammer( ). Put the tip of the screwdriver on thefront end(toward barrel) of the magbox, right at the base where the tab is that fits in the slot in the action. Now, give the screwdriver a good whack on the handle end with the hammer(not enough to break it ). This will "shock" the magbox and let the tab jump out of the slot, which will allow you to remove the magbox from the action. (You may wanna use safety goggles cause sometimes the magbox goes flyin, depending on how hard you hit it).

when re-installing it

With the action in the same position, place the magbox so that the rear tab is in the slot. Now take the same screwdriver and place the tip right on the front tab( where it bends off the box), push down and in at a 45deg angle toward the magbox.  While pressing down firmly, give the handle of the screwdriver another whack with the hammer. This will again "shock' the magbox, and as long as you keep pushing down firmly, allow the magbox to snap into place.

This method shouldnt bend the magbox in any way( unless you really hit it hard ), and is actually really easy after you do it once.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[trotterlg]

pdog06 has the right way to do it, the newer CRF rifles have the mag just sitting in the stock.  For a real ordeal try putting in a .223 mag, they have a spacer in them which makes them about 5 times as stiff.  Larry

[LaOtto222]

A 223 is what I did. It was challenging. 

[Big Nasty]

If it won't go don't force it just hit it harder LOL, and always have a good fine tune adjuster available (hammer).

[Davemuzz]

Yeah.....follow the directions that Pdog06 just spelled out. I use a rubber mallet instead of a hammer. Like he said, the first time you do it, you will be amazed at how easy it is.

Dave