Longshot38 wrote:TAM it looks like you have a fun new toy. But I do have a question. What made you pick that over converting your 700 over to a DBM system? I'm not knocking you choice just curious what your motivating factors were. Obviously those two rifles serve very different purposes and truth be told the the Ruger cost less then a converted 700 does.
Well, I'm probably still going to convert the Remington to a DBM like Badger Ordnance's or HS Precision's system eventually. It's been on my mind for a long time. The DBM is a desirable feature on the Scout rifle, but it isn't the only reason I bought the rifle. I also like the handiness of it, and the idea of the forward mounted scope—which mounts readily to the eye with a minimum of fuss. I really appreciate that it is not at all hard to find the proper cheek weld because the optic is so easy to use.
Interestingly, the three polymer mags I ordered directly from ShopRuger.com came in, and although they are all 10 round mags, just like the original steel mag, they are significantly more compact than the steel magazine. Ruger offers 3, 5, and 10 versions of the polymer magazine, but they are all priced the same at $39.95. The steel mags are offered in 5 and 10 round capacities, at $65.95 and $71.95 respectively. The polymer magazine has a removable base plate. I've posted some pictures below. Please excuse the quality....they were hastily shot with my cellphone:
As you can see the OEM steel magazine—manufactured by AI, although it has the Ruger logo on the baseplate—is quite a bit taller than the Ruger-made polymer magazine. The polymer magazine is marginally wider than the steel mag, but not so much as to be intrusive. In the second picture, each magazine has 2 rounds of Black Hills 175 grain Match loaded in it.
When you put cartridges into both magazines, it becomes apparent that the polymer magazine stabilizes the cartridge case along more of it's length. I don't think that the OEM magazines have a reputation for failures to feed, but my guess is that the polymer mags are more reliable in that regard. Ruger describes the polymer magazine as being made of "glass-filled nylon." I don't know anything at all about plastics, but if I had to compare the polymer to something else I know of from my own experience, I woud say that the polymer magazine appears to be made of something more like the frame material used in a Kel-Tech P3AT rather than the material used in a PMAG.....if that means anything to anybody. The polymer magazine also comes with a snap-on dust cover, kind like the PMAG comes with.
Even though both magazines are "single-stack," there is
some staggering of cartridges in both magazines.
I know this post is image intensive, but it might be useful to anyone else considering one of these rifles. I don't know that either magazine is qualitatively better than the other. If weight and compactness are important to you, the polymer mag is the better choice. If you like a steel mag and hold AI in high regard, then the steel magazine is the better choice. Price-wise, the polymer mag is half the price of the steel mag
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
#TINVOWOOT
just kidding... <ducking>
