I generally prefer hinged magazines, but if the rifle is to be used on dangerous game, then I want the confidence of knowing that I'm not suddenly holding a single shot after the magazine popped open on my first shot. I do own, and occasionally hunt with blind magazine rifles, and have found that you can generally unload them without fully chambering a round. I simply nudge the round forward with the bolt until the round pops clear of the magazine, then roll the gun over and catch the round in my hand. Please note that this only works with push feed rifles.
Blind mag vs hinged floorplate for serious hunting?
- Thread starter jkesrnicla
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kolob10
Well-Known Member
I prefer hinged over blind but detachable is my first choice. Never had a hinged come open in the field nor have I lost a detachable.
Blind mags are fine but to each his own.
Blind mags are fine but to each his own.
John McLaughlin
Well-Known Member
If you worry about the floorplate opening (Its happened to me climbing up a sheep mountain) tape it shut with duct tape. Keeps latch secure and it's easy to remove. JM
Richard Teague
Active Member
On A Mauser or Springfield it doesn't matter because you can take the round out of the chamber and put it back in the magazine without removing the round from the rifle. On a Remington 700 or any pushfeed you have to run the round up far enough into the chamber for it to fire so on those a hinged or detachable makes sense.
Just because he forgot it doesn't mean you or I will.
I have Rifles with all 3 options, I prefer detachable mags for reliable feeding.
Irish Neil
Active Member
The selling point on a blind magazine is/was that the stock was stronger and stiffer with the blind magazine.
I have a Varberger that empties the blind mag by pressing a release beside the feed so no problem unloading..
A friend has a Mauser in 6.5×55, provided to the Greek army in circa 1912 ,with a rotary blind magazine. Beautiful design.
I have a Varberger that empties the blind mag by pressing a release beside the feed so no problem unloading..
A friend has a Mauser in 6.5×55, provided to the Greek army in circa 1912 ,with a rotary blind magazine. Beautiful design.
19elkhunter51
Well-Known Member
Hip, hip, hooray for my two cents worth. I have never had a hinged floor plate open unintentionally. I am not fond of saying never, never is a very long time, but to the best of my memory, I can honestly say never had one open on "accident".
I also am not comfortable having to work the action with live rounds being cycled through the chamber. Makes me VERY nervous!
I have one anecdotal instance of a detachable magazine being lost. That would be my brother on his first elk hunt. Attempted to cycle a round into the chamber but immediately discovered that somewhere along our hike to find the elk he had lost the magazine from his rifle. The rifle was new and he hadn't purchased any extra magazines for the rifle. He has since corrected that problem. Hard lesson for a first time elk hunter.
I can't remember (that doesn't mean it hasn't happened) owning any detachable or blind hunting rifles. I don't thing I personally would own any hunting rifle that didn't have a hinged floor plate. Just what I am used to hunting with and I maybe don't know any better.
I also am not comfortable having to work the action with live rounds being cycled through the chamber. Makes me VERY nervous!
I have one anecdotal instance of a detachable magazine being lost. That would be my brother on his first elk hunt. Attempted to cycle a round into the chamber but immediately discovered that somewhere along our hike to find the elk he had lost the magazine from his rifle. The rifle was new and he hadn't purchased any extra magazines for the rifle. He has since corrected that problem. Hard lesson for a first time elk hunter.
I can't remember (that doesn't mean it hasn't happened) owning any detachable or blind hunting rifles. I don't thing I personally would own any hunting rifle that didn't have a hinged floor plate. Just what I am used to hunting with and I maybe don't know any better.
I own and use all three, blind, hinged floorplate, and detachable magazine. Of the three, I like the hinged floorplate best, likely because my favorite rifle for 50 years has been the pre-64 Model 70......but I could easily live with any one of them.
I bought a Remington 700ADL as my first bolt action hunting rifle. I hated the way I had to unload it. I prefer my hunting rifles to have hinged floor plates as I have lost a few clips from others I own over the years. Never had one come open in the field unintentionally and it makes unloading super easy. Also makes the bolt accessible in the event of a jam.
LongBomber
Well-Known Member
I just don't get this "have to chamber the round to empty the magazine". I have several rifles with blind mag's. You tip the rifle flat on its right side with the butt down slightly and push the bolt ahead enough for a round to pop up, then slide the bolt back. Round drops out, and the bolt is a good 3/4" from anywhere near being closed. No round on the ground like some have said?
I don't really have a preference between the two, blind mag is a bit lighter. And its one less thing to go wrong.
I have broken two floor plate setups, both had the latch come apart from recoil and require new parts to fix. A rifle under 7 pounds all up in something like a 300rum or bigger 33's I would go blind mag.
I don't really have a preference between the two, blind mag is a bit lighter. And its one less thing to go wrong.
I have broken two floor plate setups, both had the latch come apart from recoil and require new parts to fix. A rifle under 7 pounds all up in something like a 300rum or bigger 33's I would go blind mag.
Laguna Freak
Well-Known Member
Hinged or blind = hinged
Detachable is preferable to me. That said, I have 2 hinged and 1 detachable mag rifles.
Detachable is preferable to me. That said, I have 2 hinged and 1 detachable mag rifles.
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
Hinged floor plate for me, but I have detachable mag as well...just not my favorite.
jkesrnicla
New Member
Just logged back on, Wow thanks a lot for all the comments, I really appreciate it !!! I think I'm going to end up with a hinged floor plate, I'll throw some pics up once I Finish the build....
