Fixed Magazine vs Detachable Magazine

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The four items that are not available in the bush/forest and you must pack with you are water, t.p., lighter and beer. Not necessarily in that order. LOL

@CoElkHunter
Wrong order and lack of experience mate.
Beer first.
If you know how you can find water.
Grass replaces t.p.( first nations people didn't have t.p. that's a white fella invention)
Learn how to start a fire without matches.
SO ALWAYS BEER FIRST
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

@DG870 you have a solution so all is well.
I was gonna dd if you buy a Tikka you gonna get a removable mag but spares are available and they seem to work ok so long as you have it in the rifle and a spare is light enough to carry if required.
That's my 2 bobs worth for anyone considering a Tikka.
I have a mate who has Browning's so it's still a removable mag just a matter of the rifle you chose this time around.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@BRICKBURN
Obviously he has never been charged by an enraged field mouse after it was shot with a pissant 243.
Bob View attachment 557500
HA HA HA HA HA HA
Hi cap mass ate mandatory or a single shot Whelen will suffice.

Bob, how did your pet Tasmanian Devil pup get out of its cage?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, how did your pet Tasmanian Devil pup get out of its cage?

@CoElkHunter
This is a tassie devil mate

A sabre tooth field mouse is about 200 times smaller, a different colour and more wide spread. Both are very aggressive but the sabre tooth being smaller is more cunning.
Bob
Put your glasses on and you will see the difference.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter
This is a tassie devil mate
View attachment 557543
A sabre tooth field mouse is about 200 times smaller, a different colour and more wide spread. Both are very aggressive but the sabre tooth being smaller is more cunning.
Bob
Put your glasses on and you will see the difference.

Mama TD wants her pup back Bob. LOL

 

[CoElkHunter]

@BRICKBURN
Obviously he has never been charged by an enraged field mouse after it was shot with a pissant 243.
Bob View attachment 557500
HA HA HA HA HA HA
Hi cap mass ate mandatory or a single shot Whelen will suffice.

@BRICKBURN
Obviously he has never been charged by an enraged field mouse after it was shot with a pissant 243.
Bob View attachment 557500
HA HA HA HA HA HA
Hi cap mass ate mandatory or a single shot Whelen will suffice.

Seriously, what species of animal is that?

 

[Hunt anything]

@BRICKBURN
Obviously he has never been charged by an enraged field mouse after it was shot with a pissant 243.
Bob View attachment 557500
HA HA HA HA HA HA
Hi cap mass ate mandatory or a single shot Whelen will suffice.

Bob, what the heck is that thing?

 

[HankBuck]

I’m looking for opinions Based on your experiences of using rifles with fixed magazines vs detachable magazines for hunting. I’m looking at adding a 300 Winchester to my hunting rifles. I Have hunted with fixed magazine rifles most of my life but recently (last 10 or 12 years) have started liking Tikka rifles. I have gone on several hunts and so far haven’t had any problems with the magazines. I always carry a spare magazine in my hunting vest in case I lose a magazine but so far that hasn’t happened.

I’m looking at Tikkas, Benelli Lupos, Franchi Momentems and Weatherby Vanguards in 300 Win and am leaning towards fixed magazines with the thoughts of “that’s just one thing less thing that could go wrong”. Thanks for your thoughts.

I know the reason behind those that prefer fixed mags in rifles and I’ve used both. The only failure-to-feed issue I’ve ever had while hunting was with my .375 H&H fixed mag, fortunately Griz dead on 1st shot otherwise guide would’ve needed to finish him. Never had a failure with my Sako .30-06 or Tikka .22-250 and both detachable mags. I do Always - Always - carry a spare loaded mag while hunting but never needed it. I find a push feed action faster & smoother vs. claw Mauser type extractor and even my PH in Tanzania use a push feed in .416 Rem - and he has faced & “stopped” charges with it. I believe it should be based on what your are comfortable & confident with —— but recommend Always carry a spare mag.

 

[HankBuck]

Easier to miss that ... unless it's a banana clip. Magazine for my 760 is unobtrusive and I seldom unloaded it (magazine). The law here requires guns unloaded in vehicles and ammo stored separately from rifle at home so my loaded mag was usually not with my rifle. Easy to grab the gun and forget the clip.

I also have a Rem 760 .30-06 and always carry a spare loaded mag...although my 760 never lost a mag —- did find mine “on my lap” once while hunting in a ladder stand....no idea how it feel out and just lucky I saw it. Those mags don’t seem to lock in as secure as my Browning mags but I still prefer a detachable mag. Yes they can get left behind but who doesn’t check their mag when packing their rifle or heading out the door to hunt??
Those 760s were very popular in PA fr deer and bear and also big up in Maine —- not sure about their popularity in Ontario but I used mine for the 2 years I live there.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I also have a Rem 760 .30-06 and always carry a spare loaded mag...although my 760 never lost a mag —- did find mine “on my lap” once while hunting in a ladder stand....no idea how it feel out and just lucky I saw it. Those mags don’t seem to lock in as secure as my Browning mags but I still prefer a detachable mag. Yes they can get left behind but who doesn’t check their mag when packing their rifle or heading out the door to hunt??
Those 760s were very popular in PA fr deer and bear and also big up in Maine —- not sure about their popularity in Ontario but I used mine for the 2 years I live there.

They are a nice gun for tracking/stalking in thick cover. Barrel is not overly long and the gun lays flat against my side when slung. Fast follow up shots has never been a top priority for me. In Africa I'll always choose my Springfield 03A3. It's much better balanced.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Bob, what the heck is that thing?

A dwarf drop bear?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, what the heck is that thing?

@Hunt anything
A sabre tooth field mouse mate.
But seriously I don't know but it's good for a laugh.
Bob

 

[Longwalker]

My very first hunting rifle was a .303 no4 SMLE. My second was a Savage 110 .308 with detachable magazine. All my hunting buddies and family way back then strongly preferred detachable magazines. It took some time to swim against that current of opinion and learn the reliability and simplicity of fixed or hinged floor plate magazines. My logical head says fixed mags are more reliable. But in my heart I actually prefer detachable. I like carrying an extra magazine in my pocket, loaded and ready to go. Have used the extra one many times while hunting small game and varmints, admittedly much fewer times while hunting medium or big game.
One of the reasons I like my Sako M85 Kodiak .375 is its excellent magazine. Feeds like the cartridges are greased. I like it so much I also have a M85 Bavarian 7x64 and a M85 Varmint in .223. All work wonderfully well.
I owned a CZ550 .375 customized by AHR for a couple years. Beautiful rifle. Nicely upgraded with all the custom extras that they do. But it did not feed very well. Sometimes didn't properly pick up the cartridge from the magazine, and it always scratched the cases when feeding them into the chamber. The bolt tended to bind a little unless handled just a certain way too. Many say those rifles are some of the best, but I got rid of mine.
I had feeding problems with a couple of Remington 700's too. Remingtons have often been erratic in quality control in my experience.
I have enjoyed reliable feeding and no problems while using detachable magazine rifles made by Anschutz, Sauer, CZ, Sako, and Savage.
I've had feeding problems with fixed or hinged floor plate magazine rifles from Remington, Winchester, and CZ.
Never had a problem with the fixed, rotary or hinged floor plate magazine on a Steyr, Savage, Brno, various Mauser 98 versions, or any of the older Sakos.
Sadly, I've never owned a Tikka, Benelli Lupo, Franchi Momentem or Weatherby Vanguard so I can't comment on them from experience. But the Weatherby is basically a copy of the old Sako design. I bet its fixed / hinged floor plate magazine works well.

 

[HankBuck]

My very first hunting rifle was a .303 no4 SMLE. My second was a Savage 110 .308 with detachable magazine. All my hunting buddies and family way back then strongly preferred detachable magazines. It took some time to swim against that current of opinion and learn the reliability and simplicity of fixed or hinged floor plate magazines. My logical head says fixed mags are more reliable. But in my heart I actually prefer detachable. I like carrying an extra magazine in my pocket, loaded and ready to go. Have used the extra one many times while hunting small game and varmints, admittedly much fewer times while hunting medium or big game.
One of the reasons I like my Sako M85 Kodiak .375 is its excellent magazine. Feeds like the cartridges are greased. I like it so much I also have a M85 Bavarian 7x64 and a M85 Varmint in .223. All work wonderfully well.
I owned a CZ550 .375 customized by AHR for a couple years. Beautiful rifle. Nicely upgraded with all the custom extras that they do. But it did not feed very well. Sometimes didn't properly pick up the cartridge from the magazine, and it always scratched the cases when feeding them into the chamber. The bolt tended to bind a little unless handled just a certain way too. Many say those rifles are some of the best, but I got rid of mine.
I had feeding problems with a couple of Remington 700's too. Remingtons have often been erratic in quality control in my experience.
I have enjoyed reliable feeding and no problems while using detachable magazine rifles made by Anschutz, Sauer, CZ, Sako, and Savage.
I've had feeding problems with fixed or hinged floor plate magazine rifles from Remington, Winchester, and CZ.
Never had a problem with the fixed, rotary or hinged floor plate magazine on a Steyr, Savage, Brno, various Mauser 98 versions, or any of the older Sakos.
Sadly, I've never owned a Tikka, Benelli Lupo, Franchi Momentem or Weatherby Vanguard so I can't comment on them from experience. But the Weatherby is basically a copy of the old Sako design. I bet its fixed / hinged floor plate magazine works well

Longwalker, I also prefer a Detachable Mag and the best that I have are the Browning ABolt .270 & BLRs in .223 & ,243,,,,also My Sako .30-36 —- they “Click In” with a very crisp “snap” and have never fallen out, still I always carry a spare/loaded mag while hunting. I also have a Rem 760 and once that mag did drop out onto my lap - was lucky to notice it, the 76- mags seem more likely to drop out even though in many years of deer hunting with one it only happens once, The only time i’ve Ever had a mag feeding issue was with custom Winchester .375 and tht was a hinged floor plate - nothing is fool proof but I’d always prefer a good detachable mag except maybe for DG hunting

 

[CoElkHunter]

Longwalker, I also prefer a Detachable Mag and the best that I have are the Browning ABolt .270 & BLRs in .223 & ,243,,,,also My Sako .30-36 —- they “Click In” with a very crisp “snap” and have never fallen out, still I always carry a spare/loaded mag while hunting. I also have a Rem 760 and once that mag did drop out onto my lap - was lucky to notice it, the 76- mags seem more likely to drop out even though in many years of deer hunting with one it only happens once, The only time i’ve Ever had a mag feeding issue was with custom Winchester .375 and tht was a hinged floor plate - nothing is fool proof but I’d always prefer a good detachable mag except maybe for DG hunting

I like detachable rifle mags for MY hunting here. I have my Browning A Bolt .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM and a Remington 700 SPS DM (detachable mag) .300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM. I did use the Remington in RSA for my PG hunt and it killed everything dead with no malfunctions with its PUSH FEED action and no feeding or other issues with the detachable magazine(s) (I carried a loaded spare in my cargo pants pocket). I got lucky I guess, so don't try to duplicate my experience on YOUR hunt. LOL

 

[Longwalker]

One more comment for those who feel it's important to be able to "top off" a detachable magazine - why not just pop in the magazine that you already have in your pocket, full of cartridges and ready to go. It takes the same amount of time as fishing out "one" cartridge and putting it on top of the few remaining in the magazine. Count me among the skeptics who don't believe that single stack magazines are a handicap. And their reliability / smooth feeding is a big plus, and they allow the receiver area to be narrower and therefore nicer to handle - so I don't believe there is a downside. I suppose that's why we all have choices in the marketplace.

 

[Rule 303]

One more comment for those who feel it's important to be able to "top off" a detachable magazine - why not just pop in the magazine that you already have in your pocket, full of cartridges and ready to go. It takes the same amount of time as fishing out "one" cartridge and putting it on top of the few remaining in the magazine. Count me among the skeptics who don't believe that single stack magazines are a handicap. And their reliability / smooth feeding is a big plus, and they allow the receiver area to be narrower and therefore nicer to handle - so I don't believe there is a downside. I suppose that's why we all have choices in the marketplace.

You and I will disagree then. I see single stack mags as damn near worthless. Won't hold a decent number of rounds so have to reload sooner. Rotary mags will give you single round smoothness and double stack mag, numbers but can be seen as more prone to jams.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You and I will disagree then. I see single stack mags as damn near worthless. Won't hold a decent number of rounds so have to reload sooner. Rotary mags will give you single round smoothness and double stack mag, numbers but can be seen as more prone to jams.

@Rule 303
Savage does a nice double stack mag with a centre feed. Smoothness of a single stack with capacity of double stack.
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

@Rule 303
Savage does a nice double stack mag with a centre feed. Smoothness of a single stack with capacity of double stack.
Bob

Bob, thanks for that info, I knew somebody did just could not remember who or if still made.

I do have to agree with Longwalker on why somebody with a detachable mag would want to top feed a mag in the rifle if extra rounds where needed then. Mind you if the rifle is an SMLE or similar with a charger guide and you have charger clips then it would be quicker to shove five in using the charger clip. If very, very, well practiced, and I am not, it is quicker to put 10 in with charger clips than change the mag.