1886 Lebel Tube Magazine/Lifter Issue

Good Afternoon All,

Back from the range and the Lebel became an issue when using the tube magazine. It looks like the cartridges are feeding onto the floorplate fine but are getting knocked around by the next round and the bullets were pushed back into the case. Not sure if the next round had popped out of sequence but I am suspecting so. Rifle fires great in single-shot.

I am expecting that the issue is the little protrusion that should be holding the next cartridge in the tube. Please see below:

If needed, I would like to replace this part or find a smith who has made a fix.

Thanks,
Randy

First of all. I'd be a bit concerned by the lack of neck tension on the loads. That aside, I assume the cartridge stop (protrusion) holds the rounds in the tube while loading? I am assuming the last pic is showing a double feed type situation. Will a round in the tube pop free onto the lifter if you pry it up a little?

Good Evening,

Yes, the neck tension on my Lee Die set is off. I am using .327 bullets and Lee states their dies are for .323.

If I pry on the cartridge it does stay in place. However, every time I try to load a round, I get this double feed situation. I do note that the cartridge stop extension does not sit on the bottom of the case. It is somewhere on the rounded edge of the case. I would say it is approximately half-way up the rim.

Thanks,
Randy

I'm wondering if the shortened cartridges due to the bullet seating issue is causing this. As the spring forces the new cartridge onto the lifter, the second cartridge is just following along. Normal cartridge length would hold it out until the lifter starts up.

Is this correct?

Attachment 139453Attachment 139454

Kinda hard to tell from a pic like this, but it appears pretty close. If you can get a pick in at the bottom of the case rim, pry up,wiggle a bit and it doesn't release, the cartridge stop is most likely working ok for that function.
I don't think it's cartridge length, Aragorn. I can run empties easily through my Kropatschek, which has the same set up. I'm guessing either the stop tip is a hair too short, or the reset trip for it is getting retarded. A bent mag tube causing excessive mag spring pressure wouldn't help either. Just my two cents.

Try round nose projectiles.

Lebels are weird in that they are designed for pointed bullets. They base has a groove in it that holds the point off the primer and the shape of the cartridge also facilitates this.

Growing up and owning several Winchester lever actions, these bullets always make me nervous but as the Lebel has been around forever and never changed, it must work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rescuerandy2

Yes, the neck tension on my Lee Die set is off. I am using .327 bullets and Lee states their dies are for .323.

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Wouldn't this give you too much neck tension instead of too little?

Just as Aragorn says, the case shape tilts the rounds in the tube, keeping the bullet tips angled more towards the outer rim of the next round. The groove is an insurance policy which I would appreciate if jumping around into shell holes trying to keep alive.