Hinged Floor Plates??

[Prairiepredator]

I have been looking at rifles lots lately, because me or my brother eventually want to get a varmint rifle like a .223 or something. I have always been a Remington fan, but most of their guns have hinged floor plates. To me a hinged floor plate is just a waste of time, and the whole idea just seems dumb. Now I am starting to look at other brands becasuse I don't want to get a hinged floor plate if I don't have to. Even for a big game rifle (which I want to get a new one eventually), I would not want to have that on there either. Does anyone here use rifles with them, and how much do you like them compared to a detachable clip?

[Shaun_300]

I don't mind them, but I do like the detachable magazines a bit better just for ease and speed of loading and unloading. My .220 Swift and .25-06 have hinged floorplates and my .300 WSM and .22LR have detachable mags.

[jesse8953]

You could check out a remington 700 adl.No hinge plate.Just load from the open chamber.I have a 7mm mag,270 and a 243 and like them real well.

[m gardner]

Walmart sells a Remington ADL with a laminated stock. No floor plate. It was always considered a better shooter because there was no cutout for the floorplate which made the stock stiffer.

Mark

Edited December 23, 2009 by m gardner

[hunterbobb]

It depends on the rifle. On my varmit rifles I don't have hinged floor plates cause I never load more than one at a time anyway.

On other hunting rifles I prefer hinged floor plates. It is much quicker and safer to unload than a blind magazine.

I hate rifles with detachable magazines. They almost always rattle. I Don't want any extra noise spooking game. Plus most of them add extra width to or stick out the bottom of the stock so they are not as comfortable to carry.

:gun2:

[Adjam5]

The hinged floor plate was good when that was all that was available. The magazine loading bolt guns are way easier to load and unload. No fumbling for the shells with gloves or mittens on, no dropping shells in snow or mud.

I would go with a bolt gun that has a detachable mag. Unless it was something vintage or a great shooter that you can get past the fact it don't have a detach mag.

Give Savage a good hard look.

[LETMGROW]

I personally prefer detachable magazines. I have never had one that rattled and most sit nearly flush with the stock.

There is certainly less chance of dropping unused rounds when unloading. Carrying an extra loaded magazine gives you a chance to reload faster if necessary without feeding each individual round into the gun. There is also less chance of damaging ammo when loading or unloading.

Savage does have some affordable DM models which are worth a look. I have never had a Savage which didn't perform well. There are of course other brands out there. Keep shopping and handle a few in stores until you find what suits you best.

Lynn

[PA_RIDGE_RUNNER]

Since I prefer Winchester model 70s I have a floor plate on most all my hunting rifles. I agree they don't work all that well unless you like to pick up your ammo off the ground. I semi work them through the action never closing the action completely. A detachable magazine only is handy in unloading the rifle. You inadvertantly drop the magazine or it comes out without you knowing it and you have a single shot till you can buy another magazine. As for quick reloading I do not quite follow the reasoning. A magazine will hold 3, 4 or possibly 5 rounds and I can think of no big game hunting scenario where another 3, 4 or 5 rounds would be needed if you make the first one a good one. If a clip of ammo is expended and another is quickly needed I sure hope to never be hunting anywhere nearby.

[huntinman802]

hinged floor plates or clips are both good. i like either more than having to rack all the shells out of your gun.

[bruse]

I have both but prefer the detachable mag. My 25/06 and 30/06 have the detachable mag and my 7 mag has a hinged floor plate. It is a bdl model and I saw a conversion kit at cableas for model 700's. It seems good and I may try it but since I don't use the gun much I may pass. The main reason I don't use it is the detachable mag on my others make it easier to pick.

bruse