Sako L61R- feeding problem

[salclaps]

Hello everyone,

I am new to forum live between SI,NY and East Sidney, NY where most of my shootng is done. Last year I purchased my dream gun the Sako L61R made in 1969, 3 lug bolt in .270. Gun shoots real well at the range 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. I took it deer hunting this fall and had problems trying to load the magazine with multiple cartridges (factory ammo). I would be able to feed one and chamber, but if I attempted to load two - the cartridge would jam on an angle when I tried to closed bolt. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a certain knack to loading magazine on this rifle. I tried loading first cartridge on left and then first on right to no avail. It jammed either way.

Thank you for any advice on this issue.

Sal

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Sal.
Welcome to the forum. When you hunt, are you using a more blunt-nose cartridge? Sometimes a blunt nose softer cartridge will hang up on the feed ramp. Try some different ammo and see if it does the same thing, If not, it is "possible" that some minor machining may have to be done to the feed ramp into the chamber. This situation is rare, but it does happen. Especially with a softer nosed bullet.
Try a different rounds and see if it still happens. The only other thing I can think of would be the tension on the follower spring - which would be a cheaper fix if that is the case.
I have not had problems with this issue, but there are folks on here who have and should chime in rather soon
Glad to have you on board.
S-A

 

[stonecreek]

Sounds like the follower spring has, for whatever reason, gotten bent so that it is not placing even up-tension on the cartridges. Magazine springs are pretty resilient and can stand some "rebending" to restore the appropriate balance and tension. However, if you don't feel like taking on this chore most any competent gunsmith can probably do it in five minutes. Sometimes a magazine spring will be fatigued or will break. Again, a competent gunsmith can fashion a reliable replacement without too much trouble.

 

[oldgoat]

I had the same problem with one of my rifles, after ejecting the first round, the next round would always jam. Took out the magazine and bent the spring a little at a time, put it back together and it worked fine. All it took was a little "tweeking".

 

[salclaps]

Thanks for the replies S-A, Stonecreek and Old Goat

I was using Hornady SST interlocks, but I will give a try to blunt and will look at that mag spring.

Thanks for your help

Sal

 

[rick2e]

I also Had this problem with my 375 H&H --what I found was that some how the magazine sleeve was not seated into the action and was causing the bullets to bind got everything back in place and it has worked flawlessly!! In some pretty nasty conditions too!!

 

[stonecreek]

what I found was that some how the magazine sleeve was not seated into the action

I can't tell you how many dozens of times I've found Sakos with the magazine box not seated properly into the receiver. It seems invariably that whoever has taken the rifle apart just ignored that the bottom metal would not go back into place and squeezed down the action screws against the protruding magazine box, bending the tangs of the bottom metal. Fortunately, the bent bottom metal can usually be straightened with minimal effort and usualy without damaging it. I've bought a couple of bargains because others thought the floorplate was ruined. Unfortunately, a seller with one of these often can't be convinced that anything is wrong despite the grossly bowed bottom metal protruding below the wood!

 

[misako50]

I will write on the board 100 times. AMEN!!!! Surprises me that more stocks are not cracked in the tang area or other places, due to this.

-Misako

 

[rick2e]

You nailed it--thankfully who ever put it together didn't bend the floor plate it just took a gentle bend to straighten the ammo box out!!

 

[woodman]

Some people should not be allowed to own tools, they are instruments of destruction in the wrong hands.