Feeding Problem

J

JeffL

Guest
I had a 20 PPC built recently and it has some feeding problems. The gun has a Stiller Predator action. The problem is that the case catches on the bottom of the chamber enough to be annoying. If one moves the bolt fast it usually doesn't happen but slower closure may catch. Here is a picture showing what happens.

Chamber.jpg


As the case moves over the front part of the receiver, it tilts down and the bullet rests on the chamber. As you push it on in the case catches. I have chamfered the case some but apparently not enough to help. One should not have to do this anyway to chamber it. At first the gunsmith and I agreed it would not be a good idea to put a small angle on the bottom of the chamber because it may put a bulge in the case. Now he suggest "The web of a .220 Russian case is solid brass for about the first .170. The beginning of the chamber should be about .156 away from the bolt face, so I think a small angle would be acceptable."

I personally think this is a design issue with the predator action. It does not keep the case level as it goes into the chamber. This may be due to the smaller length of the 220 Russian case. I have emailed Stiller twice and have not received any response.

Would like your opinion as to what I should do.

Thanks
Jeff
 
I have an older Panda with the flat breech in 6 PPC that exhibits the same problem you address. My solution has been to flick the cartridge forward with my finger after I place it in the action. I also have a Farley that has the 30 degree cone breech in 22 BR that feeds much better. The best feeding one is a Sako 75 varmint rifle in 22 PPC with a single shot ramp epoxied into it that feeds so easy I sometimes have to check to make sure I remembered to load a round.

The bottom line is that the cone breech is the action of choice for the BR and PPC line of cartridges. With the breech you have, you'd better get used to flicking the cartridge forward with your finger and learn to love the accuracy.
 
What's happening to you is typical of when Remington actions were used for benchrest rifles. The case would hang up on the counterbore in the barrel. The way of getting around it was just as Riflemeister suggested by flicking the round into the chamber with your thumb when you loaded it instead of pushing the round into the chamber with the bolt. The purpose of going to coned bolts on benchrest actions was to prevent the case from hanging up. The coned bolt took care of this. You can probably get it to feed from the action by working on the ramp angle and a small bevel on the rear of the chamber won't hurt anything as long it's not too large a bevel. Too large a bevel and you will get an unsupported case at the rear just as your gunsmith stated which will cause problems and taken to extreme can be unsafe.
 
Put a small

chamfer (0.010) on the bottom of the chamber and chamfer the brass a little and it will quit. Sorry I didnt see the emails, but its been a madhouse around here.
 
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