DBM or Hinged floor plate

hounddawg · November 29, 2011, 12:24 PM

I have never owned a rifle with the hinged floorplate only DBM's. What are the advantages /disadvantages of each. Primary use will be target shooting but thinking about doing some stand hunting for deer and hogs next year. Specific rifle would be the Savage FCNS or FHNS

Poodleshooter · November 29, 2011, 12:50 PM

DBM
Pros: easy to reload, you can keep loaded ammo separate from rifle, but can "top up" quickly while still staying within game laws, you can reload different ammo types quickly.

hinged floorplate: cheaper, simple, no magazine to lose, fits flush make rifle handier for carry or for offhand shooting, nothing to snag when moving through brush

For stand hunting, I'd go DBM. If you're carrying it around through brush, hinged floorplate. I do the latter and have little need for the other features of the DBM, so I don't have any bolt DBMs.

tobnpr · November 29, 2011, 05:49 PM

For target shooting it makes little difference.
Depending on the height of your rest or bipod, etc. the depth of the magazine should be considered. A high cap magazine may not leave enough clearance under the rifle. This is obvious when my son tries to shoot his AK off a rest with a 30 round clip!

Since DBM's are usually more expensive, since I don't see an advantage for your intended use I would opt for the hinged floorplate. We have them on our Rem 700's and Savages both and have never regretted not having a DBM...

hounddawg · November 29, 2011, 05:59 PM

thanks guys you pretty much confirmed what I suspected. BTW tobnpr I know what a pain it is to try and shoot a AR off a rest. I mostly shoot it prone with sling or offhand but when working a new load it is a pain on the rest. I guess I will just buy the one that I can find in stock in the caliber I want w5hen I get ready to plunk down the card, probably February.

warbirdlover · November 29, 2011, 07:36 PM

Hinged. DBM require shorter ammo sometimes and are just something else to lose.

KISS method. (Keep it simple stupid)

jmr40 · November 29, 2011, 09:26 PM

On a bolt rifle I don't care for DBM. Floorplate or even a blind magazine works fine for me. But if I found a rifle I really liked and it was DBM or nothing, I'd be OK with it. Tikka is a good example. I like them, would like em better if they didn't have the DBM, but that would not keep me from buying one if I wanted to.

5RWill · November 29, 2011, 10:38 PM

DBM for me. I like to be able to switch out mags quickly and hold 10rds.

November 29, 2011, 12:24 PM	#1
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	DBM or Hinged floor plate I have never owned a rifle with the hinged floorplate only DBM's. What are the advantages /disadvantages of each. Primary use will be target shooting but thinking about doing some stand hunting for deer and hogs next year. Specific rifle would be the Savage FCNS or FHNS __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

November 29, 2011, 05:59 PM	#4
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	thanks guys you pretty much confirmed what I suspected. BTW tobnpr I know what a pain it is to try and shoot a AR off a rest. I mostly shoot it prone with sling or offhand but when working a new load it is a pain on the rest. I guess I will just buy the one that I can find in stock in the caliber I want w5hen I get ready to plunk down the card, probably February. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

November 29, 2011, 10:38 PM	#7
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	DBM for me. I like to be able to switch out mags quickly and hold 10rds. __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."

November 29, 2011, 12:50 PM	#2
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	DBM Pros: easy to reload, you can keep loaded ammo separate from rifle, but can "top up" quickly while still staying within game laws, you can reload different ammo types quickly. hinged floorplate: cheaper, simple, no magazine to lose, fits flush make rifle handier for carry or for offhand shooting, nothing to snag when moving through brush For stand hunting, I'd go DBM. If you're carrying it around through brush, hinged floorplate. I do the latter and have little need for the other features of the DBM, so I don't have any bolt DBMs.

November 29, 2011, 05:49 PM	#3
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	For target shooting it makes little difference. Depending on the height of your rest or bipod, etc. the depth of the magazine should be considered. A high cap magazine may not leave enough clearance under the rifle. This is obvious when my son tries to shoot his AK off a rest with a 30 round clip! Since DBM's are usually more expensive, since I don't see an advantage for your intended use I would opt for the hinged floorplate. We have them on our Rem 700's and Savages both and have never regretted not having a DBM...

November 29, 2011, 07:36 PM	#5
warbirdlover Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 2,324	Hinged. DBM require shorter ammo sometimes and are just something else to lose. KISS method. (Keep it simple stupid)

November 29, 2011, 09:26 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	On a bolt rifle I don't care for DBM. Floorplate or even a blind magazine works fine for me. But if I found a rifle I really liked and it was DBM or nothing, I'd be OK with it. Tikka is a good example. I like them, would like em better if they didn't have the DBM, but that would not keep me from buying one if I wanted to.