I am having fun working with my daughter on finding her a first deer rifle. At this point, I have decided to build her a rifle on a Mauser action. She wants a classic style walnut stock (yahoo, I expected a pink laminate or synthetic). I noticed that Brownell's sells new bottom metal with a detachable magazine for the '98 style mauser.
In considering magazine type, my thought is that a detachable is better for a first gun for safety reasons: Easier to see the gun is completely empty with the mag out, easier to load. The advantage of a fixed magazine is that it is simpler and won't get lost. What are your opinions?
Posts: 3858 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001
I vote fixed. The "simpler and won't get lost" part is important.
As for safety, it's not the cartridges in the magazine you have to worry about -- it's the one in the chamber. Having the magazine detached doesn't do anything to assure that the chamber is empty.
So, fixed will probably serve you better, although I don't think the detachable would be a big problem.
Posts: 13265 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
I vote fixed too. Never really liked the detachable mags much. Too easy to lose or to mix up. I agree with Stonecreek on the safety aspect as well. Popping a clip out can give you an unwarranted sense of security.
JMHO, Canuck
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001
Why don't you just split the difference and get a hinged Argentine bottom metal setup. No parts to lose, very simple and it would keep the beginning hunter from cycling the bolt to remove the rounds. Just a thought. C
My vote for a floorplate too. I think that I would be a little different than Carnivore in that I would steal the Argy action for myself and just put a button modification on a regular 98.
Posts: 7776 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
Just for clarification the Argentine bottom metal is fixed, for all intensive pruposes, you have hinged and Mauser release, but I think they are about the same, again for all intensive purposes, the Mauser being the most foolproff with the hinged model being a close second and a little handier....then you have blind magazines and clip fed....
Fixed for me. hinged on rifles for non dangerous game and Mauser type for DGRs...
Fixed is the only way to fly. A Mauser can be safely unloaded, and there are fewer parts for the new shooter to become familiar with and keep attached to the rifle.
I've never had one but I'm throwing in a vote for drop-out magazines. Generally easy to use as you'd expect from a tried and tested concept. Slap in the mag and you've immediately got 3, 5 or whatever shots available. None of this "wait a minute while I feed 5 rounds in through the action" stuff!
Posts: 360 | Location: Sunny, but increasingly oppressed by urbanites England | Registered: 13 February 2001
Hello All, Fixed Magazines, no floorplates. The hole in the bottom of the stock is another place for dirt and crud to enter. I rarely put more than two rounds in the magazine anyway. I figured out how to get the remaining ammo out without completely cycling the action. Later ZM
Loud-n-boomer... Count me in for fixed magazines. I have only had one rifle with removable mag. and never again. It was a Rem 760 pump in 30-06. I lost several red deers during the years I had that rifle due to magazine failure / feeding failure. I tried to get i fixed over and over again, bought new magazines, but it kept on failing. Sold the rifle at last.
Arild
Posts: 1880 | Location: Southern Coast of Norway. | Registered: 02 June 2000
Here is an interesting article that was posted on the Alaska Hunting Forum regarding dependable weapons and removal magazines, the out come was good fortunately. I removed the authors name. But it was in reference to an individual who was asking what type of gun would be recommended for Brown Bear.
You know this usually stirs up a hornet's nest! Any way I use a Brno (CZ 602) in .458 Win. Magnum, but the .375 Ultra Mag is a nice cartridge. Personally, I might use it if it was chambered for a Brno or a Mod. 70 Winchester since I much prefer Mauser type actions, and this is where the controversy begins. My last bear hunter this year put down a nice bear with the lowly .338 Win. Mag., but the interesting thing was the way the stainless Remington 700 worked during the five days we were together. One day I noticed his bolt had fallen open and rounds had fallen onto the ground while he packed the thing on his shoulder (I never use slings in real bear country), and then, when the moment of truth came and the bear was in his sights the rifle failed to fire! No malfunctioning ammo, the trigger was squeezed and nothing! And no the safety was not on. Fortunately my hunter had enough composure left that he worked another round into the chamber and the second time the rifle actually fired. Then the floorplate came flying open and dumped the rest of his ammo onto the ground. The point to all of this is simply it doesn't matter what the caliber is if it doesn't send a bullet when the trigger is squeezed. Consider all your options before you buy, and shoot it a lot, then leave it out in the rain for a week to see how it handles the weather.
Revelation Mountain Outfitters
[This message has been edited by raamw (edited 11-04-2001).]
Posts: 2300 | Location: Monee, Ill. USA | Registered: 11 April 2001
My vote also goes for fixed/hinged. You rarely have to speed reload in a hunting situation and that is the only real reason for magazine fed friearms, ease of reloading. For me, the KISS principle is preferred for new shooters. Glad to see your daughter is carrying on the tradition.
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001
The nomenclature of this post is all screwed up...A fixed magazine is a blind box, you have to run all the rounds through the action to unload it...
A 1909 Argentine hinged magazine is the traditional mauser release system with a floor plate that drops down dependent on a hinge or the standard Mauser that is held in place by a very strong spring and can be completely removed with a bullet, and a forward push..
The blind magazine is a disaster if a round gets stuck as you have to disassemble the rifle to correct the situation..
The Mauser battle rifle release system is the best and most foolproof as is..The release in the trigger guard is almost as good and a lot more convenient, it the honey of the Custom gun builders and another failed attempt at improving the standard Mauser, albiet a very popular addition....
Loud, I had both fixed and removable magazine M 98's and came to the conclusion that fixed is more easy and foolproof, certainly more dependable. Hugh.
