Rifles: single stack magazines or double stack magazines?

[PerH]

Voere has made or is made a metal bottom with detachable magazine for Mauser , magazines looks like an Sauer 202 style magazine 3 and 5 shot standard capacity

 

[KIH]

I'm just assuming from the photo this 98 Mauser removable magazine is single feed. It looks much narrower. Seems like it should be doable to make a double stack fixed mag rifle with detachable floorplate accept single stack detachable mags without changing the bottom metal. Would be less capacity but possibly faster reloading. Stripper clips have their disadvantages (frailty).

VOERE | Detachable Magazines

VOERE Kufstein bietet die Umrüstung für alle original K98 Modelle mit Standard Systemlänge auf ein Einsteckmagazin oder Klappmagazin aus Alu oder Stahl.

voere.com

 

[Ontario Hunter]

VOERE | Detachable Magazines

VOERE Kufstein bietet die Umrüstung für alle original K98 Modelle mit Standard Systemlänge auf ein Einsteckmagazin oder Klappmagazin aus Alu oder Stahl.

voere.com

The magazine I saw on ebay was definitely military and did not require specialized bottom metal. Remove the floorplate and somehow this magazine snaps in. I thought it was interesting but have zero interest in converting my Mauser or Springfield to detachable boxes.

 

[CBH Australia]

Other than military vs hunting market and US vs Euro market all being valid and logical points I'm sure that production costs are also a consideration.

That's coming from someone with several Tikka rifles.

They do a double stack in the CTR models and it's far more expensive than the plastic models used in hunting and varmint models.

 

[PerH]

Trench magazine were made for m98 during ww1 and used by mostly Stosstruppen , storm troppens . Design was for lmg later on. That was just remove floor plate and set in box magazine .

 

[PerH]

They were 25 shot capacity .

 

[Rule 303]

It is my opinion as well, a part of hunting ethics translated into hunting laws.
Besides, I dont remember I ever needing more then 2 shots for small game, either hitting or missing. If not hit by second shot, it will usually be too late for third shot.

However, legalities aside, the question remains:
Advantages or disadvantages of double stack mags and single stack mags, presumably in bolt action rifles?

I was brought up on single stack and non-detachable magazines. I prefer double stack detachable mags. Never lost one from any rifle yet. But some points to consider. Sigle stack supposedly give smother feeding. I don't know about the claim it allows a longer overall length of the cartridge, just look at what is done to P14/M17 Enfield mags.

Double stack allow more rounds without mag sticking to far below stock. Look at the 303 10 shot double stack and the Ruger 10 shot single stack mags. The Ruger makes the rifle look like it has a 20 round BAR mag.

I like the rotary mags, holds same as a double stack with single stack feed. The Steyr Pro Hunter double stacks are good. First click the mag is in but bolt will not pick up rounds, second click is all the way home. Does not matter if 1st or 2nd click you have to push buttons on both sides of the mag to remove it, bit hard to accidentally loose a mag and they sit flush with the bottom of rifle.

Paul Mauser came up with the formular for double stacks to work properly so why not use them. Even double stacks can leave you short when on to a mob of pigs unless 10 rounder.

 

[mark-hunter]

I like the rotary mags, holds same as a double stack with single stack feed. The Steyr Pro Hunter double stacks are good. First click the mag is in but bolt will not pick up rounds, second click is all the way home. Does not matter if 1st or 2nd click you have to push buttons on both sides of the mag to remove it, bit hard to accidentally loose a mag and they sit flush with the bottom of rifle.

Paul Mauser came up with the formular for double stacks to work properly so why not use them. Even double stacks can leave you short when on to a mob of pigs unless 10 rounder.

I made my first safari with older steyr, 375 rotary mag. Camp gun.
The outfitter told me that it just came from service, because the stock broke in position of rotary mag where is wood the thinnest.
So, I made safari with that rifle (2017)

Next year 2018, I came again to same place to hunt, and asked for same 375, but rifle was not available - again on service for broken stock, same place.

So, it brings me to conclusion that because of wide rotary mag in steyr, the stock in that position is weaker and not for rough handling, as some clients can provide.
If newer steyr rifles with double stack mag have that issue I dont know.

 

[Rule 303]

The newer Steyr rifles do not, that I know of, have that problem. My Pro Hunter has taken some rough treatment and is good. The Magazines are a double stack box magazine.

 

[WI-2021]

I think the relevant points have already been covered. Basic geometry dictates that it will be easier to get a center feed magazine to feed reliably than a staggered feed. There is simply more of the round case head in the path of the round bolt when picking up the cartridge. Eliminating the stagger also makes this a two-dimensional problem rather than a three-dimensional one, simplifying feed ramp geometry.

Balanced against that are the fact that a double stack will hold more rounds in the same length and can be loaded from the top. There are single position feed designs that can be loaded from the top (Wyatt's CFE, for example) but you're pressing the feed lips on the magazine apart to get the round in.

In general, I don't like detachable mags on hunting rifles. I'm a BDL guy, but two out of three of my BDL customs have had feeding issues out of the gate. Once they're working it's my preferred system, but getting them working is sometimes tough.