ADL to BDL conversion - is it worth it?

[dave3006]

I am going to put a new H-S Precision stock on my Remington 700 ADL. While I am at it, I am thinking about buying the BDL conversion kit. It is about $150.

Besides the money, can anyone think of a good reason to keep the ADL blind magazine? Are there any significant advantages to the ADL I am missing?

 

[Fumbler]

I don't know what you're doing with your rifle, but imagine this:
You're stalking a big 10 point whitetail deer. You take cover behind a tree, sit down, and get your rifle ready. All of the sudden the deer hears a pop and the sound of 5 cartridges falling and hitting the rock underneath you. The deer sticks its tail up and hopps off.

If your business is human protection as a law enforecement officer then just switch the deer with a bad guy.

Too me, the ability to drop all your ammo has almost no value, especially considering you may accidentally drop all of it at the most unopportune time (and the fact that it costs a whopping $150).

 

[BerettaNut92]

Dave3006,

What's the difference? I went on Remmy's site and couldn't tell one way or another...been trying to find out. Thanks

 

[dakotasin]

no, i wouldn't do it.

the only time i have ever had my cartridges come-a-tumblin' has been w/ winchesters. never had a remington or ruger lose its lunch like that.

adl is a little lighter, a little slimmer thru the underbelly, a little rougher finish, and has a blind mag (vice det. mag or hinged floorplate). the adl also has an extra screw between the trigger guard and action.

anyway, the conversion is easy, but i wouldn't do it - and haven't done it on mine. i have taken bdl's to adl's, though.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I have a BDL, and I like the ability to unload it with the hinged floorplate. It just makes things easier (and safer) after a hunt. In the 18 yrs I've owned it, I've never accidentally triggered it. The latch is quite stiff, you really have to WANT to open it. At least on my gun.

That said, I wouldn't spend $150 for this feature, to me it wouldn't be worth it. I can think of better ways to spend $150-that would buy a lot of range time, ammo, reloading stuff, a top notch gun case, etc. etc. I'd probably do those kinds of things before I'd spend the money on something like that. But to each his own.

 

[Gewehr98]

Fumbler, perhaps your screen name is a truism?

Too me, the ability to drop all your ammo has almost no value, especially considering you may accidentally drop all of it at the most unopportune time

Over 30 years, I've never had any of my 700 BDL rifles, or even heard of other 700 BDL rifles, "accidentally" drop their floorplates and magazine contents. Just a quick reminder, you pull backwards to use the trigger, push forwards (with a good bit of effort) to release the floorplate.

Benefits of the BDL bottom end include magazine conversions to other capacities, if you're so inclined. You can go with the M14 magazine conversion, or even get the extended floorplate, like this one from ArmsTech:

 

[MachIVshooter]

Cabelas sells a detatchable mag conversion kit for ADL or BDL, and you can get 4 or 10 round mags. (Obviously) You'll have to hog out the stock on teh ADL. I think they are available for both short and long action (no magnum length)

 

[Fumbler]

Now an extended floorplate or detachable magazine, that would be worth $150.

 

[Rockstar]

Don't know if this makes any difference to anybody considering the conversion or not, but Brownell's trade discount price for the kit, which includes Remmy factory parts, is under $100.