Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Barrett Fieldcraft

I was thinking of a person just wanted a few quality rifles from what I’ve heard a person could probably do much worse than a couple of those being Barrett Fieldcrafts.
I don’t like fluted bolts, think they are ugly but I can live with that. Then I noticed that blind magazine and all I ask is why?
I can not stand blind magazines. I think that’s just a flat out stupid design and always have. That one thing ruined me from even being interested in a Fieldcraft.

It's a lightweight rifle. If you're going to make a lightweight rifle, you need to remove weight wherever you can.

I understand that. I was being sarcastic. How much more would it weigh if it didn’t have a blind magazine?

If only it came in at around 8 pounds....

About the same or 1-2 oz more.

That doesn't make sense. The Ruger Number 1V I just sold didn't have any magazine at all, and it was the heaviest rifle I owned, about 9 pounds.

I thought the people here were supposed to know a lot.

There is Very little if any weight added with aluminum bottom metal on a bolt action rifle so the saving weight excuss is a little thin IMO.......Hb

You could continue to nickel and dime these up to 7lbs if you take that approach.

Ha! Yes you could add a bull barrel and make them an 8lb rifle but I thought we were talking about blind magazines vs hinged floorplates, I doubt adding an aluminum trap door to a fieldcraft bolt action rifle would add any weight......Hb

I like not having extra holes around the magazine and action, especially along the area most prone to dirt, mud, water, snow, and slush, hard use etc.
I like them sealed up.

I find it funny this is such a point of contention for folks. I have blind mag boxes, bottom metals, and even box magazines. They all work just fine for my uses. But I guess I just am lucky like that.

Blind magazines make the stock stiffer. In addition to making rifles that do not weigh much they also wanted them to be accurate. If you want bottom metal and an accurate rifle they will have to stiffen it somehow... there goes a lot more than the extra weight from the bottom metal.

I always figured poachers were the only ones that need to unload in a hurry!


As for detachable box magazines; the first guy you see wondering where his only magazine went early in a remote hunt will explain it for you.

Yeah I like all configurations of magazines but some better than others, my favorite and most handy type is an inline/single stack type detachable box magazine, (ala Plastikka or X-bolt) push feed rifles load slick as snot with these and damn if they aint handy for reloading, I have used them for years and never lost a mag in the woods, I guess you'd still have a single shot at that point, but i always keep a fully loaded spare mag in my vest pocket, very handy and super fast for reloading if you happen to shoot your rifle dry...Lol 👍......Hb

Maybe Barrett and others should offer a model with a floor plate and one without. I’d buy one if it had a floor plate. Where I hunt we ride in and out on atvs and can’t have loaded guns while doing so. Rarely hunt with my Forbes for the sole fact of loading and unloading that blind mag so much.

Maybe because my 1sr rifle, and the one I hunted with most of my life was a 700 ADL but I don't feel a blind magazine is at all a handicap. It makes for a less expensive lighter rifle, The stock is stiffer. It is less complicated and more reliable. I've had rifles with floorplates open and dump my ammo on the ground. I've had ice freeze up floorplates and they wouldn't open until thawed out. It doesn't take any longer to load one and only 2-3 seconds longer to unload.

Blind magazines are my choice. Started with one in the early seventies and it's all I use. However on the Fieldcraft, I wish they offered a shorter LOP. Has anyone shortened them? I like 13 1/4 to 3/8. Maybe their ergo's overcome the long length.

Also hammers and safeties that swing to or fro or go side to side. No big deal to me.

My first rifle which I still own was a Mod 700 ADL 243. Inherited from my grandpa. It was more then likely the last rifle he ever bought. My dad had a BDL 243 at the time. I just always thought it was silly having too partially work the bolt too unload each individual cartridge.
And that fluted bolt I just think is hideous. I also feel the same way about fluted barrels.
Too each his own I guess.

Is the Kimber Montana a blind magazine?

Yes.

I like a blind mag, especially on a slim rifle, for carry. I'm simple though. Have plenty of floorplates and have ventured into detachable mags, and they work fine, but slim and trim blind mags are nice for the hunting I do.