Hi I just bought a sporterized Fab. Nat. D'Armes De Guerreto that was converted from 30-06 to 308 without being told that doesn't pick up the 308 rounds from the mag well properly or chamber them. The follower seems to be the right length, but the mag well looks about a half inch too long. I now realize, I should have checked this prior to purchasing, and it is my responsibility. Does anyone have any suggestions how I could remedy this issue ? I can still put a 30-06 round in the mag well, the bolt will pick it up properly and begin to insert it into the chamber , but of course it doesn't go in the chamber fully. The barrel has been replaced with an aftermarket barrel, and is marked 308. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance Mike
30-06 Fab. Nat. D'Armes De Guerreto to 308 conversion - feeding
- Thread starter mykieg
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Carl N. Brown
Member
If the follower is the right length (for converted .308) but the magazine well is too long (for original .30-06), it could be as simple as it is missing a spacer to make up the difference between the .308 follower and the .30-06 magazine well for proper feeding.
This is the FN Belgian Model 1950 factory made in .30-06?
This is the FN Belgian Model 1950 factory made in .30-06?
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Thank you for the quick response and advise
It is Belgian and was originally chambered in 30-06 that's all I can really tell by looking at it. Any idea where I can get the " spacer " ? I just saw on another thread that it would require a 1/2" spacer at the rear of the mag well ... no other information - steel, plastic, pressed, rubber ? I couldn't find anything else online about it or anyone offering one for sale. The follower looks to be about 3/8" shorter than the mag well, I have no idea it it is the one that came stock with the rifle or not.
It was an old thread, but this is what it said. You need to put a 1/2" block in the rear of the magazine to take up the extra space, to compensate for the length difference between the 30-06 cartridge and the 308. And that would also require a different follower and spring to match, and I don't know even if such a follower and spring are readily available.
I intend to contact Wilson GunSmiths they have done other work for me in the past and are excellent ... I'm just embarrassed I didn't check the gun thoroughly before purchasing it. Mike
It is Belgian and was originally chambered in 30-06 that's all I can really tell by looking at it. Any idea where I can get the " spacer " ? I just saw on another thread that it would require a 1/2" spacer at the rear of the mag well ... no other information - steel, plastic, pressed, rubber ? I couldn't find anything else online about it or anyone offering one for sale. The follower looks to be about 3/8" shorter than the mag well, I have no idea it it is the one that came stock with the rifle or not.
It was an old thread, but this is what it said. You need to put a 1/2" block in the rear of the magazine to take up the extra space, to compensate for the length difference between the 30-06 cartridge and the 308. And that would also require a different follower and spring to match, and I don't know even if such a follower and spring are readily available.
I intend to contact Wilson GunSmiths they have done other work for me in the past and are excellent ... I'm just embarrassed I didn't check the gun thoroughly before purchasing it. Mike
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Clemson
Member
Remove the shroud and firing pin from the bolt so that you can safely cycle rounds through the gun.
Most conversions to .308 require a small amount of grinding on the extractor to put a small radius on the bottom corner.
Try .308 rounds seated at the rear of the magazine and at the front of the magazine. If they feed from the front, a spacer at the rear may help.
This photo shows a Model 1912 Chilean Mauser converted from 7mm to 308 (7.62 NATO) when Chile joined NATO. The spacer is at the front of this magazine, and the feed ramp was continued right down the spacer. It feeds slick as butter. In very rare cases, some feed rail work may be necessary, but most of the time short cartridges can be made to feed with less draconian measures.
308Mauser by jakefromclemson, on Flickr
Most conversions to .308 require a small amount of grinding on the extractor to put a small radius on the bottom corner.
Try .308 rounds seated at the rear of the magazine and at the front of the magazine. If they feed from the front, a spacer at the rear may help.
This photo shows a Model 1912 Chilean Mauser converted from 7mm to 308 (7.62 NATO) when Chile joined NATO. The spacer is at the front of this magazine, and the feed ramp was continued right down the spacer. It feeds slick as butter. In very rare cases, some feed rail work may be necessary, but most of the time short cartridges can be made to feed with less draconian measures.
308Mauser by jakefromclemson, on Flickr- Status
