Detachable vs hinged floorplate on bolt-actions

[anotherinkling]

I'm shopping for my first centerfire bolt-action, and it seems that there aren't too many out there with detachable magazines. Why wouldn't people want a detachable magazine? And what are the pros and cons of the various configurations? I found a thread that suggested detachables weren't really necessary on a non-tactical rifle but haven't really heard (seen?) the pros and cons.

 

[odysseus]

I have heard some people state they don't like detachable mags on bolts for a couple reasons, one being having to reach below the rifle if prone, or maybe some feed issue. Either way is fine with me, I don't have any competition rig bolt guns.

However I have a CZ in .308 which is magazine fed and it works fine by me. I like being able to carry multiple mags and be able to feed them quickly for reloads - although this is not usually a requirement. Quality is very good, metal housing and polished metal internals on the mags.

 

[Delmar]

One less part to lose

 

[30Cal]

It's harder to lose or damage a magazine that doesn't come out. It's also an added cost plus they clutter up the lines of a simple rifle.

Plus, for a bolt gun, it's almost guaranteed to be some special magazine not in use anywhere else and it's not something you'll find on a shelf anywhere (it's going to cost you a small fortune to buy a second one).

Ty

 

[garrett1955]

my browning A-bolt has a hinged floor plate with a box mag. inside it! Best of both worlds. I like it cause it looks and functions like my dads Sako which has the hinged floorplate, but with his, the ammo just falls out. My Browning I just take the mag out and put it in my pocket, when walking on roads and stuff.

 

[ArmedBear]

If you're deer hunting, you don't really need a quick reload. You won't even empty the magazine.

So, a hinged floorplate lets you unload the gun easily, but keeps things simple and light. Detachable magazines don't always seat right. Murphy's law would suggest that simpler is better. (However, if you hunt in situations where you have to unload and reload a lot, then a detachable magazine could be the simpler, better option for you.)

And as far as a bolt action for dangerous game, see this video for an example of why the classic "pointable" double rifle with express sights is still preferred. Two quick, reliable, well-placed shots are worth 1000 times more than all the detachable magazines on your belt. These hunters were LUCKY!

http://www.wildgoose.com/lion0001.htm

 

[browningguy]

I hunt regularly with both and have never had a problem with either of them.

I've heard all the horror stories of what can go wrong with detachable mags, but have never actually witnessed any of them happen. Currently my detachable mag hunting guns include an AR with uppers in 6x45 and 50 Beowulf (heck of a pig gun), an HK SLB 2000 in '06, and my Browning BARS with the hinged floorplate and detachable mag.

 

[Kaylee]

Futher, a detatchable magazine messes up an otherwise nice carry point. That's one of the few beefs I have with the CZ527 series.

 

[mp510]

Of interesting historical note, the British issued Lee Enfield rifles with detachable mags for years,and no they did not issue bandoleers of mags as we would today. They ended up loading through the top.

 

[buttrap]

A Enfeild mag may come out of the gun but its not what I would really call a "detachable" type. They did tend to issue a second mag body with some models but that was just as a spare incase the mag body got damaged.

 

[rangerruck]

all the above, plus usually a hinged floorplate model will have a stiffer receiver, since the hole is smaller, not having to accomodate the space of a mag as well. Stiffer receiver usually means , from simple mathematics, more accurate. usually!

 

[AStone]

I gave serious consideration for a while to a Tikka T3.

Aside from the fact that Remingtons & Brownings fit me better (no offense to Savage, but the fore end didn't feel right for me), I ruled out Tikka mainly for one reason: their detachable magazine.

It's made of plastic (which ... just ... didn't have a good feel), and a replacement costs around $70.

$70? That's 1/8 the cost of the rifle. For a magazine?

That just didn't compute.

I like hinged floorplates.

Kaylee's point about the extra carry spot is a good one, too, IMO.

I'm looking hard at the Rem Mod 7.

Nem

 

[LAK]

Many points already covered here. Personally, I do not feel handicapped with a blind magazine.

Skimming this thread, some point not mentioned are that; hinged floorplates can inadvertantly be opened if they have a weak catch, or one that is otherwise somewhat "easily" opened if snagged on something. Having all your catridges dump at the wrong time could be bad news.

Another is that hinged floorplates make cleaning the internals easier - or clearing if something foreign manages in get inside and tie things up.

--------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[Diomed]

Detachables are kind of a waste on a hunting or target rifle. I like them because they're easier to clean, but I'm lazy. Mostly you should get what's comfortable for you, since you're going to be the one using it; if you need fast reloading (don't know why you would, unless you were after a whole herd of buffalo or something), time to look at a military rifle.

 

[SwampWolf]

I don't mind blind magazine rifles and, in fact, own one (a Savage 116 SE). But you are in trouble if you need to dump cartridges in order to help resolve a jam problem "up above".

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The lips of a magazine are its most vulnerable point. Most bolt actions have the magazine lips machined into the receiver, and are therfore a bit more reliable.

 

[foghornl]

I understand why the Mil-Surp rifles using rimmed cartridges have 'bottom-openable' magazines. If you have ever gotten a round out of place and "rim-locked" your Mosin-Nagant, just TRY clearing that from the top...

 

[Bullet Bob]

I used to know guys when I lived in South Dakota who liked detachable mags so they could meet the "letter of the law" to not have loaded rifles inside a vehicle (meant to dissuade folks from shooting out of their trucks); then when they saw a deer by the side of the road they could load quickly and shoot it.

Note that I said I knew them, not that I was friends with them.

 

[Malamute]

"Skimming this thread, some point not mentioned are that; hinged floorplates can inadvertantly be opened if they have a weak catch, or one that is otherwise somewhat "easily" opened if snagged on something. Having all your catridges dump at the wrong time could be bad news."



I have heard of people stumbling or tripping and dumping the magazine contents with hinged type magazines. I ground the release button (inside the trigger guard type) from several rifles with hinged floor plates, just so they could not be released accidently at an embarrasing moment. Thought of pinning them too, but the catch springs seemed OK. Made a dimple that could be used to release the catch with the nose of a cartridge if needed, but I've never unloaded a rifle through the floor plate.