Problems with loading Savage 93F

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PAfurhunter

New member
I just got a Savage 93F today in 22 mag, and it shoots great. It has a very annoying problem, however. Whenever the bolt is closed, the magazine won't lock in! I must have tried 100 times to get it in, but it just will not go in. It's not the magazine because I have another magazine that is exactly the same and that one wouldn't go in either. It fits fine in a .17 of the same model. Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there a solution for it other than just working around it? I payed for a gun that isn't defective so I expect a gun that isn't defective!
 
Yes, there is. You have to grind or file just a small portion of the magazine that fits around the bracket - right where I've marked with arrows.

Savage%2093%20clip.jpg


Now, even having done that, you may still experience feeding difficulties. If so, you will probably have to bend the clip bracket very slightly forward. It's on the far left edge of this picture. Please forgive all the masking tape and q-tip; I took this picture while improvising a bedding for the action of this rifle in it's synthetic stock.

93fss%20r%20takedown%20preped.jpg


I found it easiest to remove the bracket and the retaining piece (that holds the clip in place on the bracket) from the action while bending them. Be sure to use blue Loc-tite on the bolts that hold them on when you reinstall them.

Good Luck!

me!
 
You're welcome!

If your's is like mine was and is NOT drilled and tapped for scope bases, you may have difficulties keeping the scope and rings from sliding forward in the grooes. The only answer I found - other than paying to have it drilled and taped - was Millet rings. They are solid steel and clamp VERY securely. They're about $30 a set.
 
I don't know if this has any significance or not, but I can get the magazine in if there are only four rounds in it rather than the maximum five. Also, I can put the mag in when the bolt is partially closed (I did this in the hopes of putting a round in the chamber first, then the mag), but then the rounds will not feed. Were you experiencing a similar problem?
 
Yes..... I experienced all sorts of problems with my 93FS in .22 Mag..... One after another..... For most of the past year I have tried everything to make it function, shoot and feel better..... I hate to tell you how much time, effort and $$ I sunk into that thing..... A few days before Christmas, I finally got fed up. I traded it for a Ruger 77/22 All-Weather .22 Mag.

The magazine problems you and I both experienced are typical of the 93. Other difficulties I had were exclusive to the .22 Mag/synthetic stock version; in this one, Savage seems to have cut every corner they could possibly cut and produced the poorest functioning firearm I've ever owned.

I believe that Savage makes a quality centerfire rifle. Apparently, some of their V-series rimfires are also a good value for the money in spite of some "cheapness".....

However, from my experiences with and disappointments in the 93FS in .22 Mag, I will never own another Savage nor will I ever recommend their rimfires to anyone.

I sincerely hope that you have much better luck.

me
 
Well, it shot about a half-inch group at 50 yards, so I'm pleased with the accuracy. I was shooting CCI 40-grain JHP's. I was rushed at the range so I was only able to shoot one 3 shot group with one type of ammo. I have some Winchester JHP's and some 22 WRF that I want to try out in the future. Mine also has the Accutrigger, which is a huge plus. I figured out what the problem was with the magazine. It's actually not my gun; the magazine didn't fit in another model (my brothers .17) when loaded with five 22 mag rounds either. It works with .17 rounds, though, because the spring in the magazine causes the plastic part to protude up too far in the front, and the smaller .17 bullets will fit while the 22 mag bullets will not.
What other problems did you have? Just so I can watch out for them. . .
 
Here is what I had to say over at RimfireCentral..... If you do a search, you'll find the same complaints on this model in .22 Magnum over and over again from many owners.....

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98317

When I first started working with this rifle, my groups were in the 4" class at 100 yards. I did all the things that you see in the first link but still wasn't quite approaching the 1" groups I had hoped for. I finally did a bedding job that got it to 1".....

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99356

But..... When I put a better (and a bit heavier) scope on it a week before Christmas and then had it slide forward in the grooved receiver during firing even with the Millet rings..... It was then that I decided that "NO." I was not going to spend any more money on it to have it drilled and tapped.

Again, as I've said many times, to the best of my knowledge, all these shortcomings I've experienced are common only to the pre-accu-trigger, stainless/synthetic, sporter-weight barrelled, .22 WMR Model 93FSS..... I had such high hopes for this rifle..... I love to hunt small game. It could very easily have become my favorite and most used of all my rifles..... But the experience completely soured my attitude towards Savage.

Overall, Savage makes a very good value for the money you spend; I just picked the very worst example of their line for my first try at their products.

me

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