Ruger Frontier/Compact .308 modified for M1A1 Magazines

[FirearmsInPhoenix]

Hi, I came across this picture on a webpage depicting a Ruger Frontier .308 modified to accept M1A1 magazines.

http://www.lesjones.com/2007/06/11/m1a-magazines-in-a-308-ruger-frontier-rifle/

Does anyone have any knowledge on how or where this can be performed?

I have a preference for compact bolt action rifles in .308. I'd very much like to increase the ammo capacity to ten rounds.

It makes a good strong, easy maintenance, reliable, accurate, ultra durable configuration good for many applications.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Float Pilot]

Great scout rifle if it works reliably.

 

[rbernie]

The how-to was outlined in this very forum:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=336733

 

[Reid73]

I have a preference for compact bolt action rifles in .308. I'd very much like to increase the ammo capacity to ten rounds.

You might want to consider a Steyr Elite 08.

It makes a good strong, easy maintenance, reliable, accurate, ultra durable configuration good for many applications.

Well, I dunno.

- not so great for target shooting: the barrel's too short, and the scope set-up isn't exactly geared for best accuracy.

- not so great for hunting: a 10-round magazine just adds unnecessary weight and bulk.

What other applications are you considering?

 

[FirearmsInPhoenix]

A Good all-arounder

If I used it for hunting, I switch to a four round magazine.
As far as accuracy, I have no personal experience. I'm relying on the trustworthiness of others who've stated 1" at one hundred Yards. I don't know what the accuracy would be beyond that. I'd hope I could hit silhouette scoped at 600 yards...

In my mind, it'd be a good rifle cartridge carbine (or scout rifle) to fit self defense, hunting, easy packing, and durability in a bad situation. I know it doesn't fit any of these situations perfectly, but it does fit all of them reasonably (a decent all-rounder). Most importantly it has few moving parts, is a strong design, highly reliable, is less likely to break after years of use than some other designs, and with a ten shot magazine has a decent amount of firepower.

I'm envisioning a situation where perhaps spare parts for guns may be unavailable.

Not paranoid - just prepared. Better to be prepared and not need to be, than need to be prepared and not be... (try and say that ten times fast)

Thanks for the link to thread by-the-way rbernie. Much appreciated.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Hi, I came across this picture on a webpage depicting a Ruger Frontier .308 modified to accept M1A1 magazines.

If I used it for hunting, I switch to a four round magazine.

I think you're missing a very important detail. You're not converting a Ruger to accept M14 mags, You're modifying a M14 mag to fit in a ruger. The devil is in the details in that in this conversion the mag is FIXED in position. What you're doing in this modification is you use the M14 mag body sans feed lips so even if you could devise a mag release your ammo wouldn't stay in the mag.

I've done this conversion myself on a 77MKII, it's quite straightforward and easy for anyone with a modicum of DIY ability.

 

[Leadhead]

Well, I dunno.

- not so great for target shooting: the barrel's too short, and the scope set-up isn't exactly geared for best accuracy.

- not so great for hunting: a 10-round magazine just adds unnecessary weight and bulk.

What other applications are you considering?

I shot a target with my compact a few weeks ago...worked fine.
The scope can be mounted in the standard position if you want.
10 rounds are not needed for hunting.
Other applications, fun project, different and fun to shoot
It's not a replacement for a FAL or M14 however.

 

[FirearmsInPhoenix]

Excellent point krochus. I didn't realize this until after I read the thread.

Are you happy with the set up on your ruger?

Do you think it'd be possible for a rifle smith to make the set up more solid without any play in the clip?

 

[Leadhead]

Krochus, I can't recall exactly...but would it not be possible to relieve the bolt a bit instead of removing the feed lips?
Obviously a more permanent modification, but is it possible?

 

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus, I can't recall exactly...but would it not be possible to relieve the bolt a bit instead of removing the feed lips?
Obviously a more permanent modification, but is it possible

?

It's not the bolt that's the issue but rather the feed lips that are cast into the ruger's reciever. I don't think it would be prudent to remove them because if things didn't work out perfectly your rifle would then become a rather expensive pile spare of parts. Even then you still wouldn't have a means of removing the mag, in this conversion it's held in place by the trigger guard and or the front action screw floorplate hinge Stanchion.

If you'll notice in ec-10's conversion he omitted this part. But if you shorten the little tab on the rear of this stanchion and cut a corresponding slot in the M14 mag you'll have as solid a mounting position as possible

Are you happy with the set up on your ruger?

I enjoyed it while I owned it, even though my rifle being a 22/250 didn't work quite as smoothly as EC10's 308win. If I ever end up with a Ruger Frontier I'll preform this mod again.

 

[Leadhead]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.
It's been a while since I looked at ec-10's post and somehow I thought the issue was the mag was interfering with the bolt...
Cheers, Charley