Heavier loads make my mag pop out!!

P

Pond James Pond

New member
Tested some loads with my CZ550 Varmint today. It is .308 and has a box mag.

On higher charge weights (loaded one cartridge at a time) I'd find the corner of the mag closest to the trigger guard hanging low as if partially released.

Had I had more rounds in the mag, I'd have experienced failures to feed as the head of the case would have been below the lip of the bolt. I think the recoil was enough to make the mag release activate.

First time!

To fix it?
 
I would communicate directly with CZ and follow their advice.

Two things come to mind: a weak release spring which CZ should quickly replace at little cost, and inadequate latch engagement. Latch engagement should be measurable, perhaps directly, perhaps by measuring existing wear marks, perhaps with an indicator such Dykem. Having the engagement measurement might be helpful when communicating with CZ.
 
Try it with ammo in the magazine. The tension of the follower and mag spring pressing up may well result in a tighter fit. With some guns an unloaded magazine rattles around a bit. Problem goes away when the mag is loaded. Never seen one fall out though, but worth a try.
 
Well the mag didn't actually pop out as it fall on the floor.
Once released the rear of the mag drops down a bit. Enough to let the front tab fall free of its catch and the mag drops out.

On heavier loads, the rear edge dropped away, but not fully. I think the release spring then exerted tension on the mag so it was just half released.

I'd still like to get it sorted as I would not want to make a shoot if hunting and need to make a follow-up and find I've had a misfeed.
 
I think the magazine catch mechanics to hold it in place is not doing that. Something is bent or out of specifications.

Such things have happened with detachable magazines.
 
Sorry to hear it.

My 550 holds the magazines quite securely. I did notice when I first bought the rifle, that it has a certain procedure that it likes when inserting the magazine. It seemed to me that both front and rear mag catches will pivot to allow entry of a fresh magazine, so I would just insert the magazine, and sort of bump it into place. But once I started rocking the magazine in, assuring that it was well gripped by the front catch, and then snapping it into place in the rear fixed my problems.

Unlike your situation, mine would pop free at the front however. I also found that it really likes the 10 round magazines better, and they are easier to insert and remove.

Perhaps if you try rocking it in, nose first, that will help. Although you may already be doing that. Hope this helps some.
 
When it happened, if I then pressed the mag release it dropped out as normal.

It almost seems like the mechanism reacted to the recoil. In that fraction of a second the mag began to drop, but by then the mechanism began to recover, preventing the mag from dropping further.

I'll be cleaning the gun tonight so I will take the stock off and see what is happening.
 
Heavier loads make my mag pop out!!
Click to expand...

That happens to lots of guys, which explains all the magnum rifle cartridges that have been built over the years... wait, was that a metaphor? :D
 
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