Rim locking issue.

[Eaglelord17]

What length do you have the ammo made to and what size bullets are you using? The reason I ask is when I was practicing for a mad minute with the P14, I tried using 129grn bullets (i.e. 7.62x39 bullets) which worked very well for the shooting but would rimlock because it wasn't long enough. With a longer bullet the magazine worked the way it was supposed to and there was no rimlock.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[mikedal]

What length do you have the ammo made to and what size bullets are you using? The reason I ask is when I was practicing for a mad minute with the P14, I tried using 129grn bullets (i.e. 7.62x39 bullets) which worked very well for the shooting but would rimlock because it wasn't long enough. With a longer bullet the magazine worked the way it was supposed to and there was no rimlock.

Hi
My loads are 3.05 inchs long (77.5 mm) and I use Hornady 150gr sp interlock projectiles.
They have been fine in the past which is why I am a bit lost with this problem. I would like to try another mag spring and follower but they don't exactly grow on trees in New Zealand.
Thanks Mike

[mikedal]

What length do you have the ammo made to and what size bullets are you using? The reason I ask is when I was practicing for a mad minute with the P14, I tried using 129grn bullets (i.e. 7.62x39 bullets) which worked very well for the shooting but would rimlock because it wasn't long enough. With a longer bullet the magazine worked the way it was supposed to and there was no rimlock.

Hi
My loads are 3.05 inchs long (77.5 mm) and I use Hornady 150gr sp interlock projectiles.
They have been fine in the past which is why I am a bit lost with this problem. I would like to try another mag spring and follower but they don't exactly grow on trees in New Zealand.
Thanks Mike

[oldfoneguy]

My Hornady book lists max COL for .303 British as 3.035". The books from all my other bullet manufacturers list the max COL at 3.075". I always set my length at 3.075" just to slightly reduce freebore distance. With rifles as old and well used as these it can't hurt to give them a little extra length. Will .025" make a difference most likely not but who knows? I've never run into this problem and am using the spring and follower that came in my P14 which seem to be original to the rifle.

Just for giggles I decided to measure up some of the 1955 Radway Green ammo I picked up last month and the cartridge lengths run from 3.025 up to 3.068 so that was no help at all. - Bill