FN and Model 8 magazine interchangeabiltiy

[MinnesotaDan]

Are FN magazines interchangeable with early Model 8 35 rem magazines?

I just acquired an FN, but the spacing between the bolt face and the top of the magazine is too great, the bolt travels OVER the round, instead of stripping it off cleanly, causing it to jam. I am hopeful that a different magazine could fix this, if I can find the correct one. I am guessing that the fault is that of the magazine, not the bolt.

Thanks.

Dan

[Hibby83]

Howdy Dan.

Sorry to hear you're having malfunctions. Does it appear that any parts have been replaced or worked* over?

You're pretty sure that it's not the magazine spring putting enough upward pressure?

I'd see if any of your early 8 magazines without side springs net the same result.

[MinnesotaDan]

I am pretty sure that the magazine spring is doing it's job. It really is that the top of the magazine is too low, or the bottom of the bolt face is too high. I have come to this conclusion after inspecting other Model 8s.

I will do some checking this weekend and tear down the FN and a well functioning Model 8 to compare the bolt and the magazine. I am pretty sure already that the magazine is at fault though.

Thanks.

Dan

[MinnesotaDan]

As usual, I was wrong. The magazine is fine. I believe the problem to be with the bolt carrier. The "rails" that are on the underside of the bolt carrier appear to stop short of the end of the bolt carrier. That prevents the carrier from stripping of a round from the magazine and chambering it.

Does anyone have a spare FN bolt carrier laying around LOL.

Will a Model 8 bolt carrier work? I assume so, but I am not an FN expert by any means.

[Hibby83]

I'm no expert but I feel confident that a Remington bolt carrier will work with the FN specific parts. I could be wrong *

To my knowledge the only real difference is the charging handle and the extractor. By switching unfortunately you'd lose the import stamps "if yours has them on the bolt carrier."

Look forward to hearing good news.

[MinnesotaDan]

Thanks for you input, Hibby. I have located a 1914 bolt carrier which looks like it will fit the bill. I will let you know whether it works, or doesn't work.

Yes, I do have the import marks. It won't be original, but I bet that it will cycle.

The rifle itself has pretty decent accuracy.

Dan

[Tucsontony]

Got an old bolt carrier in hand right now. It’s one that the extractor grooves had that problem with chipping but as I look at it and compare to you’re picture it look like the rails on you’re one had broken off right at the solid part of it, on mine the rails protrude like three quarters of an inch beyond that solid part.

[Tucsontony]

Pic

[Tucsontony]

Pic

[MinnesotaDan]

Thanks for your input, fellas. I will be sure to let the forum know if the bolt carriers are interchangeable or not. At least, as far as a sample size of 1 can tell us. I should have the replacement Model 8 bolt carrier in a week to ten days.

[Phyrbird]

MDan
B4 you go to alll that trouble check one thing. verify the mag spring is not backwards. I've a vague recollection of something along these lines. Know that it is possible to install the spring wrong & not know better. Suppose I might have done something like that....

[MinnesotaDan]

Thanks, but the magazine spring was the first thing I checked and ruled out.

The problem is that the "rails" on the bottom of the bolt carrier are broken off flush with the bolt carrier (see photo above previously in the thread). This means that the bolt carrier cannot strip off a round cleanly because of the space between the top of the magazine and the bolt carrier. Those rails are missing and by the time that the rest of the bottom of the bolt carrier gets to the round to try to strip it off of the magazine, it is too late and the round jams.

I have a new bolt carrier coming by Friday. It is (supposedly) from a 1914 vintage M8, so I am very optimistic (for now at least!) that it will fix things. It will fix things as long as the bolt carrier fits into the FN receiver cleanly.

[Tucsontony]

There is an older post in the troubleshooting section called (Found A Guy) that sounds like maybe there is chance that it can be repaired also. I bet the new/old bolt carrier you have coming will work just fine but if that guy can somehow repair the extractor grooves like the post mentions, he can probably cut back those rails and weld in extensions back to factory specs.

[MinnesotaDan]

Thanks, Tony. I appreciate your input.

I have sent a message to afsllc at EBay. Hopefully he will get back to me. If he has the capability to repair bolt carriers, I will be sure to let everyone know.

Dan

[1913Model8]

There is an older post in the troubleshooting section called (Found A Guy) that sounds like maybe there is chance that it can be repaired also. I bet the new/old bolt carrier you have coming will work just fine but if that guy can somehow repair the extractor grooves like the post mentions, he can probably cut back those rails and weld in extensions back to factory specs.

"Found a Guy" on that post from a while ago, (EBAY Seller), that this guy can fix that or possibly makes new parts for this issue. I forget his handle on Ebay but it should be under that discussion if I remember correctly I put his name in down.

[ranman]

Remington bolt will not work without other modifications .The guide pad on the bolt that trips the mechanism is in a different location.

[MinnesotaDan]

Thanks for letting me know. I guess that I will have the guy try to either A)repair the FN bolt carrier, or B) Modify the Model 8 bolt carrier. If that fails, I guess I will be the new source for cannibalized FN 1900 parts LOL.

[MinnesotaDan]

Re-reading your post, ranman, I saw that you said that a Remington bolt would not work. How about a Remington bolt carrier? There is a distinction, of course.

What I am going to attempt is an FN bolt inside of a Model 8 bolt carrier-in a FN receiver. Can this work?

Thanks.

Dan

[MinnesotaDan]

ranman was correct. I could not make the Model 8 bolt carrier work. Some of the pins were of slightly different size, as well as the bolt charging handle slots were different. Even a Model 8 bolt charging handle would not work, as the slot in the receiver for the handle in the FN receiver was too small for the Model 8 bolt charging handle to work. And the FN charging handle pin is too large to fit in the Model 8 bolt carrier. Modifications would have to be made.

I will send the bolt carrier off to be repaired. I will keep you all posted on the success or failure of this repair.

Thanks for the input.

Dan