This is for the .458 I've asked about previously. I checked out your referrals and have so many choices.

I kind of like the idea of a removable magazine for easy unloading, and reloading at the vehicle etc..

What's your opinion? Any shortcomings to a magazine (besides losing it)

Thanks for the advice everybody.

[This message has been edited by Africa2003 (edited 01-19-2002).]

All 3 of my M70's have the hingded floor plate. At first I thought it would be a hassle, but I do like the system. The arguement of losing or forgetting a magazine isn't very likely, but come deer season, I hear of several hunters doing it every year. I've also heard of guys hitting the release and accidently dumping all the ammo out on the ground, though I've never done it. I think it's more personal preference.

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Shane Marquardt

All of my rifles have the hinged floor plate, and I've never had a problem. I was wondering if there was a compromise in terms or rigidity, accuracy or stock splitting...or feed problems.

There should be no problems with rifles designed to use them. If you convert a rifle then there could be problems, in particular feeding, actually this would be my only concern besides the "busyiness" of all the attachement parts.
My .02 cents.

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Finally, we get a photo of Roger, been wondering what he looked like! Wait till you see mine.

Detachable Box Magazines (DBM) are just something to lose. They shorten the COL and cause feeding problems. I know more than one hunter that, after a long track, went to put a round in the chamber and saw daylight through the magazine area.

Loading a rifle in a vehicle? Sorry, not safe or sporting.

Hinged floorplates "accidently" opening? It ain't designed correctly. For fail safe operation, a couple of very nice bottom metal asemblies are available that will not open unless you want it to. Or, you may install a lever type latch to replace those silly plungers.

BoY I spend a lot of time clarifiying things around here.

we hunt on some large ranches. We will often times drive for an hour, get out, hike a ways, glassing the ridges and canyons. Then, it's back to the truck, cross a maile or two of alfalfa, and then back out to glass and walk the ridges.

Getting in and out of the vehicle, loading and unloading over and over, sometimes with gloves is a PIA. A magazine sounds nice, though I've never used one.

I don't shoot out my window, and I don't drive around with a loaded gun. I think you get my point.

I've been following your posts on the .458 your working on...

I think a DGR rifle of that caliber should be as close to the standard military configuration as possible i.e. open sights, flag safety, one stage military trigger, and the standard push button bottom metal maybe with a heavy or new spring. Bomb proof.

With the Mauser, you could just catch the two cartridges in the magazine with the bolt and flick them out (without chambering them) fast and easy enough...

Detachable magazines- could get lost, you have to have a spare in case one is damaged, might dislodge under recoil, and few good ones are available for the Mauser...

In some states, like Colorado, where it is a finable offense to have a loaded weapon in the vehicle, a magazine rifle is nice if you are driving down a road and a 400 BC bull croses the road in front of you. And you can find the magizine.

Africa2003,
Is this .458 for Africa, or do you intend to hunt with it in the U.S. during general big game seasons?

If it is going to be your heavy gun for Africa, build it for Africa. No detachable box magazines!

You would only remove the round from the chamber when returning to the vehicle; there is no need to empty the magazine.

Practice shooting with a magazine full of ammo to see whether the floorplate tends to pop open BEFORE going to Africa. You then have time to get it fixed, or you can use duct tape to keep it closed (ugly, but it worked for me in 1991).

John also brought up a very important point: cartridge overall length is reduced, and the .458 already suffers from tight powder space. If you expect to get real results from your .458s, use a regular 'inboard' magazine.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

Personaly I prefer the inside the trigger guard type release with a stiff spring. Done
correctly they are about solder proof.

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NRA Life member

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 01-19-2002).]

Bear Claw, sure, that is a good combination. I was talking about the silly buttons you push, like the cross button on the Mark X floorplate.

Ah, duct tape, the handyman's secret weapon. - Dan

I wouldn't hunt dangerous game with a detachable magazine...If it drops out accidently and that has happened by the way, and you get a charge about all you can do is give you heart to your maker because the lower portion belongs to the Buffalo, Lion or whatever...

I have never noticed that unloading a round out of a chamber as being that big a problem maybe your just creating the problem, get over it.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Your on the money John. God only knows why Interarms tried to re-invent the wheel with that awful side button affair in the Mark-X.
A reliable detachable system for a sporting rifle was perfected by HK & used in their semi auto SL7 rifles. Parker Hale used to make a sniper rifle on the Mauser 98 system that used a 10 round detachable magazine. It worked flawlessly & wasn't about to drop the magazine accidentaly. I just went out to the shop & grabbed a 1917 Remington Enfield action & a BAR (military) magazine.. hmmmmmm!

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NRA Life member

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think the one that made the most sense was: "If you are taking the rifle to Africa, build the rifle for Africa."

Okay, the magazine is out, hinged floor plate is in. Makes perfect sense, and I doubt I would realistically use it for anything in this country besides a "break-in pig".

I think I'll stay conservative, and follow my gunsmith' advice instead of questioning everything. I'll save that for project #2...

I don't understand why a detachable box magazine should be any more prone to falling out of the gun or failing than a hinged floor plate. On principle it is only in the design that there should be a difference.The Browning design is a case in point it seems to me that a guy could have the best of both worlds if a little more though was put into the design.

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Growler

Africa2003: It looks to me that your hunting style is simular to ours up here. In and out of trucks, etc. Plus, having a loaded firearm in a vehicle is a criminal offence and sure to get you jail time these days. I agree that a detachable magazine is the answer, the problem is finding a good system. I tried Remington's excuse...it sucks big time. They rattle when in the rifle and every animal within a mile can hear it. The Browning system is more secure but it isn't easy to remove like the Remington one is. The best system I have seen is made by Sako and used in their model 75. It locks in tight and is easy to release. It is probably the best engineered magazine system on a production hunting rifle. Also, the detachable system can be easily changed over to a drop plate if you wish to. Best of both worlds. Hoep this helps. EE

I side with Eagle eye on this one. Here in Alberta the law states you cannot have a loaded firearm in a vehicle. this used to mean just one in the chamber but now the powers that be have decided that it includes any crtridges in the rifle, period. So if you're in and out of the truck all day, a detachable magazine just makes sense. For a traditinal 458 though, I think I would go with the floorplate. As for detachable mags that work, the new remingtons are very noisy, the A-bolt is an improvement, the Sakos (TRG & 75) work well. The old Rem 788 system was good, but you usually have to lengthen the mag so your col will be near your lands (though this isn't hard to do). A couple of 'smiths will modify a rifle action to use M14 mags, but I've only ever seen this done on Rem 700's and Ruger 77's. There is also a system sold by Brownells right now for various rifles to convert them to a removeable mag, but I haven't tried them yet. Anyone out there used them? FWIW - Dan

Dan: I think you are referring to a product by "Kwik Klips" or some such thing. I have heard they work okay but I haven't tried them myself.

By the way, I see you live in Redmonton...I live in Redneck, oops...I mean Red Deer of course. How was your hunting this past fall?

After listening to everybodies advice, I still think that for this rifle, the hinged floor plate makes the best sense. Also, you never know who, when or where, somebody will decide that a removable magazine qualifies the rifle as "military style" or something of that nature, and get hung up in customs etc..

Best to stick with the dependable, and classic floor plate.

My Weatherby I hunt with here in the West is the one that would really benefit from the removable magazine. I'm definately planning on having that as a feature on any future purchases for domestic game.

EE, the product is made by Whitetail Mfg. They do detachable mags for Remington 700's and Mauser 98's. $120 US a pop. I have a friend who has the Kwik klip on his Rem 25-06. No complaints, but it looks a little odd, IMO. Didn't get out much this season. I'm recovering from heart failure so I got picked as the truck driver and "sitter". Oh well, at least I got out and all my partners filled thier tags, right? So it was a good year after all. Take care - Dan