Floor plate magazines

[MarinePMI]

I think it's really personal preference. I like floor plate fitted rifles if they are the slim hunting type rifle. That being said, I also like the versatility of having a detachable magazine (ease of unloading, different ammo, etc.). I have found the 5rd AICS mags tend to fit either flush, or near flush on many rifles (see below). <shrug> Like I said; personal preference.

As to why they have become so popular? AICS type magazines are the easy button for manufacturers. The magazine is always the biggest challenge when designing a rifle, so using an established pattern like AICS, with a known geometry to ensure reliable feeding, just makes it easy on the manufacturers.

 

[Dunwaters]

What’s the verdict on a rifle with a floorplate mag? See it on some of the older rifles such as the sakos. Perk I assume is you can’t loose the magazine. Do they break with time? Is the magazine capacity smaller? All newer rifles seem to have a detachable mag so this must be far more popular for some reason?


Cheers!

It’s popular because they can sell you spare magazines to replace the one you’ve lost. If you can’t lose the mag, that can’t happen.
Both styles have their advantages and disadvantages, I’d suspect that the popularity of box mags has a lot to do with range shooting where strings of 5 are the norm and a couple of filled spare mags saves time.
On the other hand you don’t see many dangerous game rifles with detachable mags.
I own both, I’ve forgotten the mag and gone out a couple of times leaving me with a single shot, that just can’t happen with the floor plate model, but truthfully the single shot was no great handicap.

 

[Lancaster]

Well now - having just posted my last comment and interest spiked I have just tried it with the Remmy 700 in .222 and .308 and to my surprise it works perfectly so long as you tilt the rifle muzzle upwards (only slightly) so that gravity makes the rounds fall back against the internal mag well - all five then stack in their absolutely normal staggered fashion!
Soooo - from the position of very recently acquired knowledge I can assure you it does indeed work with double (staggered) stack floorplate magazines!
Hot tip - insert and close the bolt first - you will be surprised just how far the first round rolls immediately after it hits your toe…..
You are welcome!

View attachment 308464

I reckon that most people who load a floor plate that way have done it at some point, trick is not to do it twice, or a third time

Obviously not me, I just saw a friend do it a few times

It was the same "friend" who has at some point rocked up with the wrong bolt or magazine for the rifle that I had they had taken with them.

If you're a bear with a remarkably small brain. having a floor plate on a stalking rifle having travelled a few hundred miles to get to where you are staying does reduce the chances of cocking it up.
Shame that I don't have a permanently attached hat, gaiters, boots, gralloch knife, gloves, binos etc.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I reckon that most people who load a floor plate that way have done it at some point, trick is not to do it twice, or a third time

Obviously not me, I just saw a friend do it a few times

It was the same "friend" who has at some point rocked up with the wrong bolt or magazine for the rifle that I had they had taken with them.

If you're a bear with a remarkably small brain. having a floor plate on a stalking rifle having travelled a few hundred miles to get to where you are staying does reduce the chances of cocking it up.
Shame that I don't have a permanently attached hat, gaiters, boots, gralloch knife, gloves, binos etc.

All too familiar I am afraid….

 

[Lancaster]

All too familiar I am afraid….

Perhaps Stalker1962, Yourself and I are all Bruthas from anutha Mutha

 

[viking90]

Box mag for me I'm afraid. It's the first thing I'd look to change on a rifle if I bought one with a floor plate....unless it takes charger clips then I'm all good with that. Rock and lock all the way. I like AI mags but they're alot of money for pressed coke can metal

 

[TringSaint]

I am a big fan of the floor plate mag. Nothing to forget, lose while crawling/creeping through brush, great for stalking as I can't see the need for a 10 round mag for my needs.
I've had someone with me before that had to run back to their vehicle to pick up their mag they'd forgotten to take with them

Never forgotten a mag, but left my bolt in the cabinet a couple of times!!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Never forgotten a mag, but left my bolt in the cabinet a couple of times!!

Hmmm. One of the perils of having a couple of Remmy 700s with identical stocks but in .222 and .308 - ask me how I know that the bolts fit but for some stupid reason nothing else does - especially painful after a 60 mile each way trip to the range…….!
Silly Foxyboy!

 

[VSS]

Floorplate definitely preferable to detachable mag, imo.
I wasn't sure to start with, but very quickly got used to the floorplate. It has many advantages over a detachable magazine. I wouldn't change now.

 

[HonestJohn]

what's the deal with camo taping up scopes?

 

[John Gryphon]

Floorplate all the way for me. My old Mod 70 has been used to almost abused for over 40 years in our bush and is still going strong. I swear that among the almost abuse a box mag would have been lost.
I have an internal mag in a Sako TRG-S that makes me uncomfortable about losing it when taken into the bush.
Another pi$$ off is when I see a rifle with a ten count box jutting out from underneath, what a disaster.

 

[MarinePMI]

what's the deal with camo taping up scopes?

It just prevents the odd dents and dings that come with rough handling and use. For a cheap scope there probably isn't a reason for it, but scopes that go north of $2000 generally get a wrap on my guns.

 

[bogtrotter]

What’s the verdict on a rifle with a floorplate mag? See it on some of the older rifles such as the sakos. Perk I assume is you can’t loose the magazine. Do they break with time? Is the magazine capacity smaller? All newer rifles seem to have a detachable mag so this must be far more popular for some reason?


Cheers!

My Sako is forty years old floorplate has never been a problem holds five six if I want to put one up the spout.
In contrast my Parker-Hale only holds four.

 

[John Gryphon]

what's the deal with camo taping up scopes?

Lot of deer hunters tape for the "no shiny reflection " finish

 

[HonestJohn]

My Sako is forty years old floorplate has never been a problem holds five six if I want to put one up the spout.
In contrast my Parker-Hale only holds four.

that's odd, I always manage to squeeze 5 down in a mauser floorplate mag. can't see why a PH wouldn't take 5 down in presumably .243 as far as I recall you shoot,,plus a half-loaded.

 

[HonestJohn]

Lot of deer hunters tape for the "no shiny reflection " finish

I always find that amusing as you've got a tiny black scope tube being carried behind a 6ft bloke, and it's the scope tube that's gonna frighten then deer

 

[bogtrotter]

that's odd, I always manage to squeeze 5 down in a mauser floorplate mag. can't see why a PH wouldn't take 5 down in presumably .243 as far as I recall you shoot,,plus a half-loaded.

Parker-Hale is 270

 

[HonestJohn]

Parker-Hale is 270

ok, still..odd, even my 8x57's I can squeeze 5 down and one up, and probably the exact same mag box dimensions..wonder what's different, 4 seems very little. that will keep me awake all night

 

[viking90]

Another pi$$ off is when I see a rifle with a ten count box jutting out from underneath, what a disaster.

Absolutely, 30 count or more is much better

 

[John Gryphon]

I always find that amusing as you've got a tiny black scope tube being carried behind a 6ft bloke, and it's the scope tube that's gonna frighten then deer

You are hereby invited to come on down for a free hunt with me to see how it really is with tape/camo etc ......this is a real invite,over to you.

A bloke that has a sun reflecting shiny scope can be at a decided disadvantage in many stalking situations (not all)