How to Clean Your Remington 783 Magazine: Tips for Maintaining Optimal Performance

Cleaning a Remington 783 magazine takes about five minutes: strip the floorplate, spring, and follower; brush out carbon and grit from the feed lips and follower channel; wipe dry; and apply a light dry lubricant before reassembly. Do this every 200-300 rounds and you'll fix most feeding problems before they start, instead of chasing them at a hunting camp three hours from the nearest gun shop.

A dirty magazine doesn't usually fail all at once. It starts with a round that feeds slightly crooked, then a hesitation on the second-to-last round, then a jam at the worst possible moment. Most of the time, what looks like a magazine problem is actually a five-minute cleaning issue.

Step-by-step cleaning

1. Unload the magazine completely and remove the floorplate.
2. Lift out the follower and spring, noting orientation before you set them aside.
3. Brush the feed lip channel and follower rails with a nylon brush; avoid soaking the body in solvent, since the follower and floorplate are polymer and prolonged solvent exposure can cause swelling or cracking.
4. Wipe every surface dry with a microfiber cloth and clear remaining debris with compressed air.
5. Reassemble with a light, dry lubricant on the spring and follower - not a heavy oil.
6. Cycle the empty magazine by hand ten times, then run three dummy rounds to confirm smooth feeding before it goes back in the rifle.

Maintenance schedule

Wipe down and inspect every 200-300 rounds during regular range use, and always after a hunt or any exposure to rain, mud, or snow. If the rifle sits in storage, pull the magazine every 4-6 months to check for corrosion and re-lubricate lightly, even if it hasn't been fired.

When the issue isn't dirt

If a magazine still won't feed the last round or two after a proper cleaning, that's a sign of a worn spring or follower rather than debris - see our guide on Remington 783 magazine follower problems. ARM ships the spring, follower, and feed lips as one matched, complete magazine rather than as separate parts, so the fix at that point is a full replacement.

Which magazine do you need?

• .308 Win / .243 Win / 6.5 Creedmoor (short action, 4 rounds): Remington 783 Short Action Magazine, or the 8-round XT version
• .222 / .223 Remington (short action, 5 rounds): Remington 783 Short Action .223 Magazine
• 450 Bushmaster (3 rounds): Remington 783 450 Bushmaster Magazine
• .270 Win / .30-06 Springfield / .25-06 Rem / .35 Whelen (long action, 4 rounds): Remington 783 Long Action Magazine
• 7mm Rem Mag / .300 Win Mag (magnum long action, 3 rounds): Remington 783 Magnum Long Action Magazine
• Browse everything: Remington 783 Magazines collection or the Remington 783 Magazine Guide

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my Remington 783 magazine?

Every 200-300 rounds during regular range use, and always after a hunt or exposure to rain, mud, or snow. In storage, check it every 4-6 months.

Can I use gun solvent to clean a Remington 783 magazine?

Avoid soaking the magazine in solvent. The follower and floorplate are polymer, and prolonged exposure can cause swelling or cracking. A dry nylon brush, microfiber cloth, and compressed air remove nearly all carbon and grit without touching the plastic components.

Why does my Remington 783 magazine fail to feed after cleaning?

Usually a reassembly issue, not the clean itself. Check that the spring is seated correctly on the follower post and the floorplate is fully locked - a partially seated floorplate lets the spring bind sideways.

Should I store my Remington 783 magazine loaded?

Short-term storage loaded is fine. For storage beyond six months, unload the magazine to reduce long-term spring fatigue and inspect it every few months.

How do I know if my Remington 783 magazine spring is worn out?

A worn spring lets the follower sit lower than it should when loaded, causes the top round to feed at an inconsistent angle, or fails to push the last round fully into the feed lips. If you see these signs, the fix is a full replacement magazine - ARM builds the spring, follower, and feed lips as one part.

Build the five-minute clean into your regular range or hunting routine, and keep a spare magazine on hand for the trips where you can't stop to fix one in the field.

Buying for a shop, a range, or more than one rifle? See our wholesale purchasing terms for volume pricing.