Mark iii ammo

harper_07 · Post by **harper_07** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:48 pm

Wife was out of town this weekend so I did a detailed strip and deep clean of all the parts. After about 2 hours of cleaning and figuring out how to get the hammer and associated parts back in the gun i was ready to shoot. (Never would have been able to figure this out with out this site THANK YOU!!!) Shot several hundred rounds over the corse of saturday and sunday. CCI Mini-mags worked flawlessly, Winchester X both standard velocity and high velocity had about a 10% FTE rate. the Federal 550 failed every other time. Most were stuck with the spent cartrige hanging half way out of the chamber. but on more than a few occassions I had to get the scew driver and pliers out. I cannot think for the life of me how this happens but a spent case gets tottaly turned around and is lodged backwards in the far corner of the chamber with a live round being fed properly in the barrel. Not sure if this description makes a whole lot of sense. I will try to remember to take a cammera the next time i go to the range.

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:21 am

Sounds like the spent case is getting knocked off of the extractor prematurely. The causes are a weak extractor or the magazine's feed lips are sitting too high and knocking the case off of the extractor. The extractor issue can be remedied by purchasing and installing an Exact Edge extractor from VQ. Checking the mag positioning or slightly rounding the forward edges of the magazine's rear feed lips, near where the insertion slot is, can clear up the problems caused by magazines.

R,
Bullseye

harper_07 · Post by **harper_07** » Wed May 13, 2009 6:52 pm

thnaks for the advice Bullseye. I think i remeber there being a picture describing how to modify the magazine. but i cannot seem to find it using the search.

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed May 13, 2009 9:21 pm

Here's a link to the mag mod http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008 ... tweak.html

R,
Bullseye

harper_07 · Post by **harper_07** » Fri May 15, 2009 1:44 pm

thanks again bullseye i have a new project for the next time it rains.

harper_07 · Post by **harper_07** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:51 pm

i found this comment on your troubleshooting site: Verify there is a 1/16" gap between the magazine feed lips and the ejector. If magazine feed lip is touching extractor, then lower the magazine's position by either taking a little material off of the plastic magazine bottom block or the magazine release latch.

I am home now so i thought i would check it. turns out the magazine touches the ejector. Should i try the rounding of the forward edges of the magazine's rear feed lips found here: http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008 ... tweak.html

or is there something else i should do first?

Post by **Bullseye** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:34 pm

In the mag positioning error I pointed out that the Mark III in question had some flash on the mag release that needed some touching up with a file. If the pistol you have is a Mark III then removing the mag release and inspecting it. If you find a misshaped latch a quick touch up with a file will fix the problem. The top of the flat area should nearly touch the large round pin, like in this picture.

Lowering this flat area will lower the mag positioning. Another way would be to actually file a little off of the bottom side of each of the mags where the locking dimple is located. The bottom edge is the surface that sits on the flat ledge of the mag latch button. This technique is especially useful if only a few of the mags are not positioned properly. Others have found that the mag tweak will also allow the case to remain engaged with the extractor hook until ejection by rounding the rear feed lip edges.

In this specific situation your inspection and choice of these remedial methods will solve the problem. I suggest looking at the release button first.

R,
Bullseye

harper_07 · Post by **harper_07** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:43 pm

When I did my deep clean i forgot all about the Mag release. I took that appart today. There was all kinds of oil grease and metal shavings on the edge that catches the magazine. I cleaned it out and put the gun back together. The edge was actually cut below the pin. Now there is a gap between the ejector and the magazine. not quite a 1/16th but close. I am going to try this before i do anything else.

John fox · Post by **John fox** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:37 pm

I use CCI standard in both my Mark II's and a Smith 41 without any problems but they don't feed well in my 10/22. Don't know why.

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon May 18, 2009 6:41 am

That area in the frame tends to collect shavings from the bullets and can cause problems if not deep cleaned once and a while. Usually an owner had difficulty releasing a mag as the first signs of residue build-up in the mag release.

R,
Bullseye