A bar end positioner for face-off of a new bar is applied to a magazine bar feeder having a stock tube and a cable drive for feeding bars to a bar working machine. The bar end positioner includes a gate movable to block off the end of the stock tube and a stock stop valve for detecting the engagement of a bar end with the gate. When the stock stop valve operates, a movable clamp closes onto the cable and then the gate moves clear of the stock tube so that the cable and the bar advance until the clamp reaches a stop and the bar reaches a face-off position. This starts the bar working machine which then releases the clamp so it returns to its start position.