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Gunsmithing DBMs - Pros and Cons?

69Troll

Private
Minuteman
May 25, 2012
5
0
78
Colorado
I'm a newbie in the LR rifle world. I've picked up a Remington 700 police with heavy 26" .308 barrel and the good trigger. Since I recently also picked up a Tikka T3 with a DBM, I've come to appreciate it for hunting, but I'm wondering what the pros and cons are of a DBM for a mostly target/competition and possibly occasional long range hunting rifle.

I tried the search function but didn't really see anything on the pros and cons of replacing the hinged floor plate style with a DBM.
 
Re: DBMs - Pros and Cons?

Pros:

Quicker reloads
Ammo stored neatly, ready to snap-in and go
Can hold more ammo

Cons:

Magazines are expensive
magazines can catch/hang on stuff
non flush-fitting mags get in the way for offhand/positional shooting
Must have mag "in" for easy single-loading

For hunting, I'd take a "BDL" internal mag every time. For tactical matches, the DBM is tough to beat.
 
Re: DBMs - Pros and Cons?

After using a rifle with DBM, it's really hard to have it any other way. I would agree with all the above pro's but the only con that I have actually experienced is the cost of the magazine. I've yet to have the magazine get in the way when shooting in a position other than prone. I'm sure that it could happen but training will change it. I've used the protruding part of the magazine as a stop on barriers, so you could consider it a pro.
I guess single feeding could be negative, but I normally start to single feed once the mag has gone dry, so it's still in the gun.
If you shoot enough, you will get tired of loading from the top and tired of unloading with a hinged floor plate. I do not regret spending the coin for DBM and I will do it to all my rifles that aren't so equipped, as long as I shoot them enough to warrant it. I think I would skip it for a dedicated, light weight, hunting rig.
Could you imagine loading your pistol from the top, through the ejection port? Feeding your rifle with a magazine is great. Don't worry about the ergonomics, it's much better than an AR type rifle.
 
Re: DBMs - Pros and Cons?

Thanks everybody. The DBM on my Tikka T3 convinced me what a good idea it is for a hunting rifle - especially here in Colorado where the law is you can have a loaded magazine in the rifle while in a vehicle as long as the chamber is empty.

I'm new to the Long Range target world, although I have shot p-dogs at 450 yds with my 22-250. The decision seems to be made so now the question is which bottom metal and DBM to get for my HS Precision stock on the 700. I'll be doing my research using the search function.