[George Foster]

I seem to remember one time somewhere reading your magazine box should have some play to it. I have two Ruger 77's one has play on the magazine box and the other doesn't. Will it affect the accuracy on the one that doesn't have any play?

 

[Kermit in Va.]

I would say, probably...


Donnie

 

[toiville2feathers]

I haven’t ever heard that before. It may depend on if the magazine box is part of the floor plate, which is responsible for holding the action in its name bedding.
If those bolts are tight, I don’t see how the box could affect accuracy if it was loose. If anything it may well affect feeding the cartridge into the chamber. A jammed bullet when feeding could disturb the bullet seating which will affect accuracy.

There was a problem 30 years back with the Rem 700 and when they used a magazine follower that was formed from sheet metal and was quite loose and caused feed problems. The fix was a machined follower that fit tighter.

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Agree with Toiville. Any difference in the two rifles due to their magazines is likely to be more about bullet feeding than accuracy.

On a lighter note, I keep my magazine box by my toilet, and when it gets tight I know it's time to throw out some of the older magazines.

 

[George Foster]

This is what I was told by a gun writer of some renown.

It sure can, because the pressure affects the action bedding.

It can occur in two ways, either box being a little too "tall," so it presses upward on the bottom of the action when the screws are tightened, or by pressing of the hole in the stock for the magazine box. Either can cause some pretty screwy groups.

 

[man of steel]

Key word is "Can"

Anything "can" effect accuracy

I have a 260 Rem in a 700 Rem with a detachable mag. This thing shoots "lights out". So much so that I dare not touch it. Both mags I have are so tight in it , one more so than the other, that they are difficult to put in and take out.

I would love to take it apart for cleaning and just to see if it's bedded and what not(bought it used from a member here 15 or so years ago)

Maybe it IS effecting accuracy in a good way

 

[Kentucky Fisherman]

Here's a thread from the Accurate Shooter forum that might shed some light on the issue and give you some ideas to try.

 

[George Foster]

Thanks KF and all, the rifle shoots okay, it is glass bedded and has a Timney trigger. With 75, 85's and 100's it shoots under 1" groups for five shots at 100yds. The action screws are setup at what the one article says. The box isn't all that tight it just doesn't have the play my other Ruger has. I may take the box out and take just a little off the bottom where it meets with the front and middle screws. I just want to see if I can get it any better.

 

[George Foster]

I know some complain about the Rugers but I have always liked the looks of them. The two I have is a 6mm that I bought first and for a light barrel rifle has been excellent for accuracy. My best five shot group with it has been 0.375 with a 75HP Sierra and an 100gr Sierra at 0.4375. The 243 that I bought a couple of years later I have shot 0.50 groups with both the 75HP Sierra and 85HPBT Sierra. I can count on both of them giving 1" five shot groups but as I say I just want to see if I can get the 243 to give a little better results and I noticed the magazine box was a little tight.

 

[RareBear]

As an experiment, maybe remove the magazine box and shoot some groups, see what happens.