Help Finding Savage Arms Sporter 23B Old-style Magazine

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WolfgangTheGunDoctor

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Have one of these in and it needed several parts, incl. a magazine (23B is for the .25-20 cartridge). I figured there was no need to order the other parts unless I could get the mag also. I finally found & ordered it from Triple K and after a couple days (to make sure they were actually sending one), ordered the other parts

After the other parts were in the mail to me, I get an email from Triple K telling they had no mags and wouldn't for at least 3 months! Their website still says they have them in stock. Won't do business with them again!

I've tried all the usual suspects w/ no results. So, in the meantime, I have the rifle ready to go except for a magazine. I really feel bad about charging for a rifle that doesn't even work, but don't want the darn thing hanging around here for 3+ months, either.

Do any of the members know of a source for these mags or of one that I could modify the work?

Thank you!
W
 
Is there a huge difference in the design?

PS Triple K has made some good magazines, have a few for my Detonics Mk2.
 
Have you been searching E-Bay? .... Six years ago I picked up a nice Savage Model 1922 sporter in .22 rimfire and all it needed was a magazine. Searched all over the web and googled up all kinds of stuff for months and finally found one on E-Bay. Came out of an old gun shop up in Maine or Vermont (forgot exactly where) that had closed a few years back. The guns & scopes & gunsmith tools all got sold immediately and all the junk in boxes and drawers sat around for a few years until the rest of the place got cleaned up. My magazine came from all the miscellaneous stuff that had been laying around in the back room. It wasn't cheap but it was about the going price for well used ones and this one was almost perfect. If you can't locate a source for that mag keep checking the web because stuff like that sometimes will show up. I saw some other pretty obscure gun parts when I spent months looking for that mag. P.S. just keep googling terms like "Savage 23B parts", Savage 23B magazines, etc.
 
I finally found a mag. However, the problem is now that there appears to be no provision for holding up the front end of the mag. There is just a flat spring to keep it from falling out, but not enough to keep it in place, esp. for the first couple rounds. The rear of the mag does have a small protrusion to hold it in place.
How the heck is this silly design supposed to work? I've never seen anything like it and I've worked on a lot of different brands and models. I've tried to find an owner's manual which might shed some light on this, but no luck so far.
Anyone out there have any advice regarding this?
Thanks.
 
Sounds like the flat spring is bent or weak. On my 23 in 32-20 (uses the same magazine), the spring is fairly strong and has to be compressed somewhat to remove the mag. You push up slightly to relieve pressure on the mag protrusion and the swing the bottom of the mag forward to clear the protrusion from the cutout in the trigger guard that holds it in. The spring should be strong enough to make an audible click when the magazine is inserted.
 
Here's some pics of my 23C's parts:
Magazine retention spring:






Magazine retention plate:


Magazine / Bolt:




Be sure the magazine retention plate is installed so it rests in front of the trigger guard. It takes a bit of finagling to get it into place properly.

Since you got the gun and magazine separately, are you sure that they are a proper match? Do shells slide relatively easily out of the mag?
 
The parts you show look to be exactly like mine and I have them installed the same way. I'm fairly sure I have the correct magazine and it feeds the rounds out relatively easy. If you have the time & inclination, please post a photo of your mag so I can verify that I have the same.
Is the spring tension of the front flat spring all that holds up the front of the mag? I've never come across a mag that did not have some sort of catch in the front AND rear end. What a goofy design - no wonder they are relatively rare!
Thanks!
Wolfgang

natman said:
Here's some pics of my 23C's parts:
Be sure the magazine retention plate is installed so it rests in front of the trigger guard. It takes a bit of finagling to get it into place properly.
Since you got the gun and magazine separately, are you sure that they are a proper match? Do shells slide relatively easily out of the mag?
Click to expand...
 
Various views of the magazine:









The spring is all that holds it in. It seats with a firm click and is quite solid once it's locked in place. Just a thought - are you sure your mag is for 25-20 / 32-20?
 
Last edited:
Natman:
I hesitate since you've helped out so much w/ your comments & photos, but I would like to ask another favor from you.
Do you have the means to measure the lip openings at the front and rear (in case there's a taper) of both pairs of lips, so 4 measurements total?
I fixed the mag drooping problem by TIG welding up the top front middle of the mag and then fitting it until it just went into place. However, it still doesn't feed as smoothly as I'd like and thought that checking and adjusting the lips would be a good place to start.
Again, thanks for your help in all this mess!
Wolfgang
 
Rear lip rear - 0.32"
Rear lip front - 0.30"
Front lip rear - 0.36"
Front lip front - 0.34"
 
Thank you, sir!
The rifle in question is owned by my neighbor, so I'll fetch it from him, adj. the lips as needed and see what happens. I'll let ya know how it it went and take a few photos to try and show what I did for the benefit of anyone who's been following this thread.
Wolfgang
 
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