S+L rifle doesn't like flat tipped bullets

[TungaDunga]

Hello there,

I have a William Evans S+L 6.5 x 55 which I love, is accurate and a thing of beauty. However I have one gripe which is I have some RWS Twin core ammo which has a flat tipped head and when cycled with bolt, tends to catch the edge of the breech on loading which is off putting and requires fiddling to seat (not optimal when stalking prone, off sticks etc). It loves Norma 120g BT's as they are pointed obviously so slide in no problem. I would be pappy with the RWS bullets apart from the cycling issue so I want to start using soft points for reds but even Federal 140g soft points which have a slightly flat point to their head catch slightly (and don't group well oddly). Am I alone in this problem? Should I tweak the magazine to change the angle of the bullets?

It's starting to bug me.

Tungadunga

 

[Hanechdene]

this happens with my S & L victory in 375 ruger using a standard magazine.

The actual magazine for this calibre has the front 1/3 bent upwards slightly so the cartridge rides higher as it is pushed out.

I don’t have this problem with my 6.5x55 or 30 wm

 

[TungaDunga]

Thanks @Hanechdene. Yes one way of solving it would be to play with the magazine but I'm not too keen on doing that. Maybe get another magazine from S+L then?

D

 

[Hanechdene]

Have a word with Alan Rhone’s in house gunsmith, he should be able to help you - he did the modification on one of my magazines

 

[TungaDunga]

Great thanks. I will do that.

 

[User00026]

If due to dirt or non-oiling, the front of the follower rises slower than the rear, or a weak spring from leaving the mag stacked/filled in your cabinet, it can also create this issue in feeding. Seen it in Tikka m65’s.

 

[sh1kar]

Hello there,

I have a William Evans S+L 6.5 x 55 which I love, is accurate and a thing of beauty. However I have one gripe which is I have some RWS Twin core ammo which has a flat tipped head and when cycled with bolt, tends to catch the edge of the breech on loading which is off putting and requires fiddling to seat (not optimal when stalking prone, off sticks etc). It loves Norma 120g BT's as they are pointed obviously so slide in no problem. I would be pappy with the RWS bullets apart from the cycling issue so I want to start using soft points for reds but even Federal 140g soft points which have a slightly flat point to their head catch slightly (and don't group well oddly). Am I alone in this problem? Should I tweak the magazine to change the angle of the bullets?

It's starting to bug me.

Tungadunga

go and see Neil McKillop. Probably fix it while you wait
S

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm. In my experience this is quite common especially with “blunter” tips. My 6.5x55 is pin-point accurate with Sierra Gameking hollowpoints which have a ”point” almost at right angles to the bullet so perhaps one or even two per mag do not cycle. They unfortunately are now demoted to range only.

 

[TungaDunga]

go and see Neil McKillop. Probably fix it while you wait
S

thx sh1kar

 

[Kalahari]

Strip the mag and give the spring a "stretch" carefully.

David.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Rifle is trying to tell you something.

Shoot the Norma 120’s, they really are the optimum factory round for the swede.

 

[Heym SR20]

Often the challenge with push feed actions. They really require a smooth ogived bullet to feed smoothly. With the RWS twin core bullets there a lips and rings on the which will catch.

Controlled round feed actions tend to be better, as the cartridge feeds in till its rear is released to be pushed up by spring pressure and caught under the extractor and then being fed straight into the chamber.

With a push feed the ramp first guides the bullet into the chamber, the bullet hits the top of the chamber and as it moves forward it flicks the rear of the cartridge in line to be pushed into the chamber.

Give its a William Evans S&L I would take it to them to have a look at.

 

[TungaDunga]

Rifle is trying to tell you something.

Shoot the Norma 120’s, they really are the optimum factory round for the swede.

Ha ha ! Yes I tend to agree with you! Groups very tidily - sub three quarters of an inch. I just wasn't sure about red stags with them on the hill so wanted something for those rare occasions!

 

[TungaDunga]

Often the challenge with push feed actions. They really require a smooth ogived bullet to feed smoothly. With the RWS twin core bullets there a lips and rings on the which will catch.

Controlled round feed actions tend to be better, as the cartridge feeds in till its rear is released to be pushed up by spring pressure and caught under the extractor and then being fed straight into the chamber.

With a push feed the ramp first guides the bullet into the chamber, the bullet hits the top of the chamber and as it moves forward it flicks the rear of the cartridge in line to be pushed into the chamber.

Give its a William Evans S&L I would take it to them to have a look at.

Good info thanks.

 

[TungaDunga]

Strip the mag and give the spring a "stretch" carefully.

David.

Thanks Kalahari. It's relatively new so spring Ok I think. I think it's more about the angle of the bullet leaving the mag but will try this if it gets tired.