No need for an apology, Dick.  We've been all over the map in this thread.  It was suggested that I disassemble and clean the cut off.  And judging by the amount of force necessary to move it, it is certainly not a bad suggestion.  It takes an enormous effort to move it.  I don't doubt that there is some crud involved in it somewhere.  I know it's not supposed to move when the wind blows, but it should be a move easier than it does now.

And for your confusion with terms, that's probably my fault.  Sometimes I use remove and disassemble interchangeably. 

I am also sure that the side-plate is part of the problem; hopefully the entire problem.  I just hope this isn't going to be one of those fix this and now that doesn't work well evolutions.

I've only owned Krags for the last year or so with the exception of one I had for a month or so when I was a teen.  I am getting into the unknown here with this Model 96 since I've not disassembled the 98s I have any further than was necessary to ensure they were safe to shoot.  They came to me working as advertised.

I think it's more likely to be the carrier/follower assembly.  I have put a 98 assembly in one of my 92/96s trying to improve feeding of HPBT match bullets and it took a bit of tweaking to get it away from binding on the top of the magazine.  In the end, I went back to the original assembly before Camp Perry.   I might have to mess with the 98 assembly again if I want to get some flat nosed 220gr cast bullets to feed. 

Here's a different angle.  Couldn't figure out multiple attachments and it's late and I'm still not feeling perky.

There has been some mention of whether or not I've got the right follower.  Here are 3 shots of mine.  I hope this will help those more knowledgeable than me.

As always Thanks!

Looks to be the right carrier/follower assembly bob, the 98 assembly had more of a curl to the carrier, though I did note one I had one must've been an early 98.  The carrier is the forepart of the assembly, the follower the tail part.  At the failing to feed point you've pictured, the "point" of the carrier that juts into the middle of the follower should push that round up onto the top of the follower.  Your rough sideplate, or a weak spring might be the cause of it not doing so.  We're making progress.

The point appears to be sticking out like it should Bob.  It's what lifts the last cartridge up onto the follower and thus into position to feed.  The rim would be the most likely thing to snag on your rough sideplate, try smoothing the sideplate at the rear with some emery cloth, or get another one.  A light coat of oil on the follower's surface might help too.

Can you observe ANY difference in the appearance/location/orientation of the last round when in feed position, as opposed to any of the preceding cartridges in exactly the same place? Is the last round any more/less subject to wiggling with a finger? Is it more/less "loose" than any other? Some difference should be expected, as it is "held" differently than any other.

Perhaps a couple of carefully posed pictures? Speaking of which - some of the foregoing while very clear, do exhibit some pretty serious distortion - might be better to back the camera off a bit and then crop/enlarge the image.