Savage 12 VLP chambering problem

[westoakland]

I've been experiencing a significant problem with my Savage 12 VLP in Ruger 204. The rifle's accuracy is excellent, however almost every time I try to chamber a round from the magazine, it jams and fails to chamber correctly.
I have been using Winchester 204 Ruger 34 gr. jacketed hollow point ammo because the rifle shoots them well (when I can get them in the chamber). However, if this ammo is the problem I will use something else.
I've tried different ways of placing ammo in the magazine – as far back as possible, and as far forward as possible while still permitting the bolt to work, and every place in between. Nothing has worked so far.
Can someone help me with this problem? Thanks in advance for your help.

[T.D.C.]

Have you tried other brands or weights? Have you compared the lengths? Normally you have more feed problems from a detatchable magazine than a fixed (though I own a couple of exception). Check the follower for burrs and rough spots and try to see wher the feed problems begins. When does it leave the magazine abd align with the bolt and where does the tip go, up or down. That might give you a clue where the problem is. That is my limited thoughts for today, time for a nap. Whew! .

[TriCitysJeff]

I had the same problem with that round ,What I found out was ,the hollowpoint on that bullets is serrated on the tip,it was catching right before it went into the chamber on the lip of the chamber,,,(try to chamber,then stop right when it hangs up)you will see where it hangs , I took a dremel tool ,,working real slow and smoothed a ramp into the barrel,,works great now.
Never had aproblem except that bullet,,

[OrneryCuss]

It would help if you described the failure to feed in more detail.

Are the rounds stopping on the breech face or popping out of the magazine too soon or at the wrong angle?

A chamfer on the chamber mouth and/ or polishing contact surfaces on the action where the bullet hits can help the first situation.

On the second type of failure, you may need to adjust the feed lips of the magazine box so that the round stays in the mag box longer. You will need to remove the mag box to do that. Instructions for removing the mag box in the old style action are on savageshooters.com. The new style comes out much easier as it is not attached to the action. As for the feed lip adjusting, you need to get a feel for that. Some wide flat bladed parallel jaw pliers work well for moving them in / out and changing the angle slightly. Go slowly and try for feed before you do too much.

[Silverfox_in_ND]

westoakland--I had a similar problem with my Savage 12VLP when I switched from shooting the 32 gr. and 40 gr. V-Max bullets to shooting the 35 gr. FBHP Bergers. The round would move forward as the bolt pushed it, but the tip of the bullet would not get up high enough to make it up into the chamber. It would hit just below the beginning of the chamber hole.

I concur with OrneryCuss about the magazine feed lips requiring adjustment. I removed the magazine from my rifle (with a lot of difficulty and maybe one or two cross words :rolleyes: ). I used a pair of pliers to make a slight upward bend on the portion of the feed lip closest to the chamber. Go real easy on the bending as it doesn't take much to make it work right. This action solved the feeding problem, but it left the feed lips quite rough. I had to take a ignition point file and emery cloth to get those feed lips smoothed out so the casing walls didn't get scratched.

Here's a couple photos of a tool some gunsmith made or maybe bought to bend the feed lips on Savage magazines.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Silverfox_ND/204%20Ruger%20Magazine/Mag_tool_top_view.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Silverfox_ND/204%20Ruger%20Magazine/Mag_tool_side_view.jpg

I would suspect that you could use a Dremel tool and create a sloped feed ramp at the bottom rear of the chamber. I'd be real careful and go little by little.