Mossberg Model 146B - Control Round Feed

[Johnm1]

I’ve written about this rifle in two other posts

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mossberg-no-m4-rifle-scope.904565/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mossberg-146b-stock-touch-up.907108/

I am just tickled to death with this acquisition. Traded two rimfire I didn’t use for it. Mossberg was known for ‘Affordable’ rimfire in the days of Remington and Winchester and to a lesser degree, Savage. But looking at the construction I don’t see any shortcuts to get to a lower price point. This is just one solid 22 rimfire. Consider the upgraded sights and I don’t see how Mossberg sold them for less than Remington or Winchester unless they just took a lower margin or their workers made less.

But the real point of this post is that it appears to be a controlled round feed.


The rounds are definitely held in place on the face of the bolt as the bolt is traveling forward. This is something I wouldn’t expect on a rifle that was designed to be less expensive than the competition.

 

[dh1633pm]

My dad always said that the Mossbergs cost just a dollar or two more than the Remingtons and made up for it on quality. I have a 146b. Heck I have seven of their .22's. Love them all. No I don't have stats to back it up, just a dad. My grandfather and grandmother (on my father's side) both worked at the arms. Maybe he was speaking from the standpoint that he could get them factory direct. Have to ask him. My grandmother packed rifles and my grandfather moved them and other things around the factory.

 

[Johnm1]

Notice iin the above picture that one of the extractors is shorter than the other. A friend and I have surmised that it is by design to aid in feeding but I'm not so sure. Does anyone know if they are supposed to be identical?

They are available if one needs replaced though it feeds pretty well. Out of a hundred or so rounds fired last weekend there were only a couple of fail to feed.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Pretty sure the unequal extractors are to enable it to eject out the right side.
Lemme pull out my 46 and take a looksee.....

 

[Johnm1]

Pretty sure the unequal extractors are to enable it to eject out the right side.
Lemme pull out my 46 and take a looksee.....

The extractors are different by design. I looked at Jack First parts. RFC also has a couple of threads on the subject.

I still think it unusual for a 22 bolt rifle to have controlled round feed. Are other makers similar? I'd have thought a simple push feed would have been sufficient. Especially in what was supposed to be an affordable rifle.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The extractors are different by design. I looked at Jack First parts. RFC also has a couple of threads on the subject.

I still think it unusual for a 22 bolt rifle to have controlled round feed. Are other makers similar? I'd have thought a simple push feed would have been sufficient. Especially in what was supposed to be an affordable rifle.

Considering how the elevator/lifter finger "flicks" rounds up out of the follower tray, the cartridge must be fully controlled or it would go flying out of the ejection port, I think.
Probably very necessary for this tube-feed system. I dont have any of the box-mag Mossbergs any more, but I suspect they are push-feed.

 

[Johnm1]

Pretty sure the unequal extractors are to enable it to eject out the right side.
Lemme pull out my 46 and take a looksee.....

Speaking of ejecting the empties, this thing chunks them three tables down. Ive never seen a bolt action throw empties so far.

Fot those not following the other threads on this rifle/scope, here is the finished product

 

[Johnm1]

No I don't have stats to back it up

I think that is about the best we can know about how these rifles were thought of from back in the day. I'd take that over what I read on the internet today.

 

[chicharrones]

The extractors are different by design. I looked at Jack First parts. RFC also has a couple of threads on the subject.

I still think it unusual for a 22 bolt rifle to have controlled round feed. Are other makers similar? I'd have thought a simple push feed would have been sufficient. Especially in what was supposed to be an affordable rifle.

My Zastava MP22 in .22 WMR doesn't have those cuts in the bolt, but the way the extractors are built the cartridge has to feed up under the extractors from the magazine.

Strangely enough, my daughter's Zastava built Remington Model 5 (same basic gun) in .22 LR acts as a push feed with the extractors snapping over the cartridge rim as the bolt closes.

 

[Johnm1]

My Zastava MP22 in .22 WMR doesn't have those cuts in the bolt, but the way the extractors are built the cartridge has to feed up under the extractors from the magazine.

Strangely enough, my daughter's Zastava built Remington Model 5 (same basic gun) in .22 LR acts as a push feed with the extractors snapping over the cartridge rim as the bolt closes.

It seems an extravagance for the target market. And especially so if your trying to produce a product less expensive than your compitition.