Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Aftermarket Bottom Metal- Why?

In what way are they an upgrade?



Seems like the main reason for replacing a barrel would be because it's worn out. I'm thinking bottom metal shouldn't wear out. In what way would bottom metal "fall short" of aftermarket?


The point is that I'm wondering in what quantifiable way aftermarket bottom metal is better than the factory. Seems that the factory bottom metal is already made of aluminum and weighs less than 3 oz with spring and follower, so I can't see that weight saving is it. Aftermarket units are either aluminum or steel. Steel would be a weight gain although "should be" a strength gain. Aluminum aftermarket can't weigh enough less. Is it in fact a higher grade of stronger aluminum? How many people have actually broken their floorplate or trigger guard? Is this something that one should anticipate being a possibility if they're running the factory bottom metal?

I dont like ADL style because I like the ability to open the mag to clear something mucked up.

PT&G Aluminum really isn't any better, if as good, quality as the factory units, they're just lighter. If you want better quality, Sunny Hill, Williams, etc., is your huckleberry.

Personally, I hope I never have the "need" to deal with PT&G again. They suck.

I took the stock unit off of my Rem 700 SA. Without the spring and follower, it only weighs 2 ounces. Does any aftermarket unit actually weigh less than that? Or were you referring to the aftermarket aluminum units weighing less than a factory Winchester one, maybe?

Mucked up how? Double feeding? Or mud, etc.?



Guess I never considered ease of unloading as a part of my builds.

I think most of the reason for changing to aftermarket bottom metal is that it's something else to buy...there's only so many things a person is able to customize on a rifle, and it makes people feel like they're accomplishing something to change out as many components as possible.

You would if you lived where you couldn't have any rounds in the gun in a motor vehicle.......

Yup, In & out of the truck at a few spots a day, and the blind magazine gets tedious. All day hike & sit, No problem
Same reason I like a double for Hunting Grouse at several locations, over the Pump or Auto. Just a little quicker & easier to unload when moving to the next spot.

Makes sense.

All of my guns are ADL. It's what I grew up with. However, I hunted out of state with my BIL where you had to be empty in the vehicle. By the end of the first day, I totally was thinking about the merits of a BDL hunting rifle.

Double fed, cartridge jammed under a feeding lip, follower nose dive, etc. easiest way to clear is to drop the floorplate.

For an in and out rifle, I’ll go a step further and say gimme a detachable mag like a 760, T3, etc.

Either ADL or detachable is the way to go. BDL is an accident waiting to happen.

I'm the exact opposite, I think BDL is the way to go and ADL or detachable is asking for trouble.

I don't like ADL for all the reasons Tom just outlined. Detachable mags are handy and I use them on my prairie dog rifles for quick reloading but the chance of losing the mag and not noticing it is too great on a carry rifle plus they stick down too far. I've never had a moments trouble out of BDL style bottom metal and it's impossible to lose unless you lose the rifle, everything's attached to the rifle.

I replaced the original cast aluminum bottom metal with a stainless steel Williams set on my 700 BDL.
I believe it makes the action more rigid because it ties everything together with less flex.
It weighs significantly more but it is worth it in my opinion.