Rio Grande Magazine Follower question

[joec]

I see Brownells sells one for a Marlin that works in their 336 and others. I was wondering if this will work in the Rio Grande also to replace the ABS one now there. Steve's Gunz sells them for the 92 but not the Rio Grande.

[pricedo]

I see Brownells sells one for a Marlin that works in their 336 and others. I was wondering if this will work in the Rio Grande also to replace the ABS one now there. Steve's Gunz sells them for the 92 but not the Rio Grande.

I can help you if your rifle is the .30-30 Winchester version.

I had a few stainless steel magazine followers for various rifles in my spare parts drawer so I measured the plastic follower & found that the plastic magazine follower from my Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF was virtually identical dimensionally to the stainless steel follower that Steve Young of Steve Gunz of Texas makes for the .44/.45 caliber Rossi model 92s.

I installed the stainless steel follower and my Rio Grande cycles without a problem with several brands of ammunition I tested in the gun.

I think RD bird-dogged down a source for a mag follower for the .45-70 version. I don't have an RG in .45-70 so I don't recall the specifics.
There are other threads on this board about that specific topic.

[joec]

I see Brownells sells one for a Marlin that works in their 336 and others. I was wondering if this will work in the Rio Grande also to replace the ABS one now there. Steve's Gunz sells them for the 92 but not the Rio Grande.

I can help you if your rifle is the .30-30 Winchester version.

I had a few stainless steel magazine followers for various rifles in my spare parts drawer so I measured the plastic follower & found that the plastic magazine follower from my Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF was virtually identical dimensionally to the stainless steel follower that Steve Young of Steve Gunz of Texas makes for the .44/.45 caliber Rossi model 92s.

I installed the stainless steel follower and my Rio Grande cycles without a problem with several brands of ammunition I tested in the gun.

I think RD bird-dogged down a source for a mag follower for the .45-70 version. I don't have an RG in .45-70 so I don't recall the specifics.
There are other threads on this board about that specific topic.

Thanks again Price but Steve Gunz doesn't make one for a 45-70 which mine is. I email the maker and got a replay that they didn't know as they have never looked at the RG rifles before. I might pick one up from Brownells and give it a try at worse I'm out $20 or so. Now the marlin plugs work in some of the 92 also though a touch longer over the spring. I will compare the plastic one I removed from my 45 Colt with the one in the 45-70 and see if they are interchangeable but tend to doubt it.

[pricedo]

I have a red metal follower from Wild West Guns of Alaska that fits the Marlin 1895s still on the bubble card left over from tuning up/rebuilding my 2 Remlin Guide Guns.
If I decide to get a RG in 45-70 I'll try it.
I suggest that you PM "Ranch Dog" the forum Administrator before you waste $20 & he should be able to put you on the scent of a mag follower for your RG cause I believe he has a RG in 45-70.

[joec]

I have a red metal follower from Wild West Guns of Alaska that fits the Marlin 1895s still on the bubble card left over from tuning up/rebuilding my 2 Remlin Guide Guns.
If I decide to get a RG in 45-70 I'll try it.
I suggest that you PM "Ranch Dog" the forum Administrator before you waste $20 & he should be able to put you on the scent of a mag follower for your RG cause I believe he has a RG in 45-70.

That is the same one that Brownells sells and how I contacted the maker. It would be great if it does but I've also contacted http://www.thesmithshop.com/magfollow.html who might make them if there is enough demand.

I'm also waiting for and answer from http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify. ... contact-us who also makes their own in stainless steel.

[joec]

I order this one yesterday and will let you know if it works in the Rio Grande. http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify. ... -steel-357 though mine is 45-70. Hopefully it will work but they said if not they would refund it if not.

[pricedo]

I order this one yesterday and will let you know if it works in the Rio Grande. http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify. ... -steel-357 though mine is 45-70. Hopefully it will work but they said if not they would refund it if not.

As I said your best resource is other members who own RGs in .45-70.

I'd be very surprised if Ranch Dog the forum administrator still has the factory plastic magazine follower in his .45-70 RG.

I own a RG in .30-30 WCF and the magazine follower Steve's Gunz sells for the .44 caliber R92 fits my RG perfectly.

[joec]

As I said your best resource is other members who own RGs in .45-70.

I'd be very surprised if Ranch Dog the forum administrator still has the factory plastic magazine follower in his .45-70 RG.

I own a RG in .30-30 WCF and the magazine follower Steve's Gunz sells for the .44 caliber R92 fits my RG perfectly.

I tried the one I got from Steve's Gunz for my 45 Colt 92, not a chance it would work. That is why I order the Marlin one.

[Ranch Dog]

Still have the yellow follower in my RG4570. I actually had to pick the gun up and look, that is how far my memory seems to be working. I thought I had found a follower in a part bin but that was for my RG3030. It is just a 336 follower. It is probably a tad under diameter but will compare it to the R92 44 Mag follower that pricedo described next week.

When considering the follower there are five dimensions that are important:
A = OAL
B = Length of the portion in the receiver
C = OD of the portion in the receiver, it will actually be two values as it will have a taper forward/aft.
D = Length of the portion in the tube
E = OD of the portion in the tube
F = ID of the portion in the tube

I was able to find some of my notes from working with the dimensions but came up short of writing down all of the above results.

Here is what I have for the yellow follower in the RG4570:
A = .910"
B = .525"
C = .597"/.607"
D = .385"
E = .635"
F = .535"

I believe that beyond fitting over the spring one of the most critical measurements is "C", the length of the portion of the follower in the receiver. The RG has a very short follower as it is passing through a "336" type frame vs. the thickness of the "1895" frame. I think this is why I came up short of the measurements and did not go any further. I believe it is too long but no longer have an 1895 to finish up the measurements I started. Can anyone help here?

[joec]

Still have the yellow follower in my RG4570. I actually had to pick the gun up and look, that is how far my memory seems to be working. I thought I had found a follower in a part bin but that was for my RG3030. It is just a 336 follower. It is probably a tad under diameter but will compare it to the R92 44 Mag follower that pricedo described next week.

When considering the follower there are five dimensions that are important:
A = OAL
B = Length of the portion in the receiver
C = OD of the portion in the receiver, it will actually be two values as it will have a taper forward/aft.
D = Length of the portion in the tube
E = OD of the portion in the tube
F = ID of the portion in the tube

I was able to find some of my notes from working with the dimensions but came up short of writing down all of the above results.

Here is what I have for the yellow follower in the RG4570:
A = .910"
B = .525"
C = .597"/.607"
D = .385"
E = .635"
F = .535"

I believe that beyond fitting over the spring one of the most critical measurements is "C", the length of the portion of the follower in the receiver. The RG has a very short follower as it is passing through a "336" type frame vs. the thickness of the "1895" frame. I think this is why I came up short of the measurements and did not go any further. I believe it is too long but no longer have an 1895 to finish up the measurements I started. Can anyone help here?

I got a PDF file sent to me to list the dimensions on as well as what each was for. It was sent by a company that might be interested in making them. Oh and measured mine and very close to your measurements +-.002