[FAL mag adapter thread?]

Bump if you want to spend a good bit of money procuring this wonderful, hopefully reliable product

[SureFire mag problems]

Got my new followers and the problem has improved but is not gone and the bolt still won't go back easily.

 

Surefire is working with me on this. I will report back when I get new followers, newer mag, et.

To repeat from earlier, Surefire believes the problem only exists in 200 Mags that are out there right now.

[SureFire mag problems]

The magazines are the problem, in my case, not the gun. I was assured by RAA that I had a 1 in 1000 gun that had an anomaly, causing the loaded surefire 25-rd mags to prevent the bolt from moving backwards and denting the top round if they did.

I sent the rifle in to be worked on and it came back in good time. RAA was really good about handling the shipping, etc. Unfortunately, I have the same problem still. RAA assures me that they used a 25-rd Surefire mag in testing, but it's an older magazine that was probably from a different production line than the new ones I've been buying (I've gone through 4 mags now that ALL do the same thing).

I'm trying to get a hold of Surefire right now. I'll keep you all updated once I speak to them.

 

The Surefire 25 round mag I got would not function in the gun with a FULL loaded magazine. With a loaded mag placed in the gun (tight!) the bolt could not be retracked fully (jammed after short movement).

 

I determined the problem was that the FOLLOWER WAS TOO LONG (to feed a full 25 rounds)...

 

A magazine in these guns needs to be able to have the TOP round be able to be depressed by the bolt, as the mag is locked in place, by about 1/2 the diameter of the round. The 25th round did not have adequate movement to do this.

 

Removing 1/8-1/4" off the bottom of the follower solves the problem easily. Of course, you could just short load the mag.

 

I suspect the guy who determined the perimeters for the magazine...did not know or talk to the guy who designed the BHO follower. Otherwise, they might have thought of this.

 

It's not much of a issue once you understand it. Fortunately, everything else is pretty much okay with these mags...the only other real possible issue seems to be sure the follower is not restricted in it's final upward movement by a pinched mag or excess molding "flash".

 

All this is pretty much aftermarket magacology.

 

LG

Point well taken. You must have a different problem than I do. My mags do this when 20+ rounds are loaded. They do not dent the round as much w/ 20 as they do w/ 25. I suspect and have been assured by Surefire that the problem is as you say, followers are too long.

Again, I will report back once I get those new followers.

 

Stay safe everyone.

[SureFire mag problems]

Can I have your out-of-spec ones?

The followers? PM me.

[SureFire mag problems]

I heard from the guys at Surefire earlier this week. They assured me that there was one batch (200 mags) that were produced with followers that were not quite to spec. They are very sorry and are sending me followers ASAP.

I'll report back when I get them.

I have 2 Surefire 25ers and have not had one failure of any sort. All in all I've shot about 500 rounds of Barnaul through my self converted Saiga .308.

When did you purchase your Surefire Mags?

Again, I was told that a lot of 200 mags were produced with this error and it was done fairly recently. I have not claimed, nor would I, that Surefire doesn't regularly produce a superior product. In fact, I know dozens of people who have used Surefire Mags, including these 308 mags, with no issues after several thousands of rounds running through them.

 

Again, When I get the replacement followers, I will report back here. I feel certain that that will fix the issue.

 

Thank you all.

[SureFire mag problems]

I heard from the guys at Surefire earlier this week. They assured me that there was one batch (200 mags) that were produced with followers that were not quite to spec. They are very sorry and are sending me followers ASAP.

I'll report back when I get them.

[SureFire mag problems]

The magazines are the problem, in my case, not the gun. I was assured by RAA that I had a 1 in 1000 gun that had an anomaly, causing the loaded surefire 25-rd mags to prevent the bolt from moving backwards and denting the top round if they did.

I sent the rifle in to be worked on and it came back in good time. RAA was really good about handling the shipping, etc. Unfortunately, I have the same problem still. RAA assures me that they used a 25-rd Surefire mag in testing, but it's an older magazine that was probably from a different production line than the new ones I've been buying (I've gone through 4 mags now that ALL do the same thing).

I'm trying to get a hold of Surefire right now. I'll keep you all updated once I speak to them.

[SureFire mag problems]

I talked to Surefire a couple weeks back and got a good answer. Apparently I have one of the 1-in-1000 Saiga 308's with a problem on the bottom of the bolt. This is admitted by RAA and supported by them.

Part of the problem is that they build the rifle around the mag that comes with it ...

RAA paid for me to ship it to them. They assured me they would test it with SEVERAL different mags prior to returning the rifle to me.

 

I'll keep you all posted.

[SureFire mag problems]

My problem is not failure to eject, it is failure to even feed the round. I can't cycle to bolt far enough to get the first round to feed. Ho wcan I eject something that is not even chambered. Are these mags really from SureFire? I have not seen any mention of them on the SureFire website. I am beginning to think it is a Bubba gunsmith invention similar to the infamous Wraithmaker drums. I fail to see a SureFIre logo on the mag itself which makes me question the products origins. SureFire also has great customer service for all their other stuff like their flashlights which makes me suspect these mags even more. And no, I have not had the chance to finish testing them, the weather has been lousy for shooting here in PNW.

 

 

I second that. The problem we're having is not something that can be overcome w/ lube, reassemble, bad rounds, etc. The mag jams the first round up too far so it presses against the bottom of the bolt and in fact IMPEDES the bolt from even opening.

 

This problem doesn't happen w/ the Saiga-produced 8-rd mags.

 

Does anyone here know anyone who works at SureFire Mags? Unfortunately/Fortunately (I'm not sure which yet) I gave my mags back to my distributor and he isn't able to diagnose at this moment. I'm hoping I can get some good replacements soon. I'd hate to ask for my money back because I really want these mags!

[SureFire mag problems]

U might have one of those bolts tha need to be filed down there is A thred about that I cant rember what it is called my 308 scratches the shell on left side of the mag Make me a deal and i will take your surefires.

 

Sorry, but if you have to remove metal from the BOLT to make the mags work, that is a problem with the mags, not the rifle. If this was coming from FBMG, then they would have gotten roasted in this forum, and rightly so. I know that a lot of people really want a viable alternative to the bunny mags, but don't let your dislike for FBMG cause you to accept major flaws in the Surefire mags. At least hold the competition to the same standards.

 

I don't think he's saying that the BOLT is catching on the MAG.... There is a thread around here about a guy who had his S.308 Failing to Extract because the bolt would gouge the next round because a part of the bolt hadn't been filed down properly. I think he was suggesting that maybe his bolt needed the same tweaking. I know I filed a bit down on my bolt to allow it to cycle smoother...

 

Anyway, he wasn't defending Surefire or Attacking FBMG, he was simply suggesting an alternate solution.

 

 

Actually, I am saying that. The mag interferes with the bolt function when fully loaded. It jams the bolt in the forward locked position and you can not cycle it to chamber a round, it is somehow obstructed from moving by the mag. As far as the mag swelling due to pressure I don't see how that should interfere with the bolt riding over it as the expansion would be sideways, not up where bolt travels. The mag went into the mag well wit no increase in difficulty when it was full compared to empty. Maybe the feed lips are expanding and pushing up. I need to examine this closely with the dust cover off next time. For the time bing I suggest everyone checks their SureFire mags for positive function when fully loaded before relying on them.

 

I have the same problem w/ my surefire mags, but WORSE.

I just got my S.308 and it worked perfectly w/ the factory 8-rd mag. Pop in the 25-rounder and it felt tight. VERY hard to insert the mag so that the catch will secure it in.

I then attempted to cycle the bolt and got about 1/2" before I encountered significant resistance. I'm a stupid caveman, with a stronger back than my mind, so I tried forcing it and it DENTED the top of the first round about 3mm DEEP. Major scratching!

 

I compared my 8-rd mag to the 25-rounders and it looks like the whole round follower base (the plate that sits on the spring) is set 3 to 5 mm higher than the one on the 8rd mags. This looks like the obvious problem to me.

 

I have received, through a middle man, a response from Surefire about this issue that hasn't satisfied me. I will post it and all other related materials here if the issue is not resolved.