It really shows how slow the firearms manufacturers are to respond, but it has taken a very long time to have detectable magazines on commercial bolt rifles. And the ones that are out there, are three round, or some ridiculous low number .
When the “classic” bolt gun ruled the Highpower Match rifle category, some folks had their rifles converted from stripper clip to magazine fed. If you have ever shot Highpower you know that you have to reload five rounds at some point during the rapid fire stage. A stripper clip has a lot more failure mechanisms than a box magazine, even though a box magazine is a little longer to replace and insert. I have had stripper clip rounds autoeject, get bunched up and jam, bunch up and only allow four rounds in the magazine, and have had the top round just roll off on the ground. Sometimes stripper clips get stuck in the slot, and instead of bottoming out in the receiver, stay jammed midway. When you push on the cartridge column, the cartridges just roll out of the receiver instead of going into the magazine. I have jammed my thumb on the side of the receiver stripping cartridges. Used to have fun ejecting the empty stripper clip by pushing the bolt forward. Then one day the blasted stripper clip instead of ejecting out, ejected forward, and got between the bolt face and the back of the receiver. Causing a jam. Magazines are just more reliable and sure.
Mo’s used to do magazine conversions of rifles such as the M70, M700. Mo does not have a web site, so I don’t know if he still offers this service. It is not cheap.
Mo's Competitor Supply
34 Delmar Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
I only saw a few people with magazines in their bolt gun. I do not think converted bolt guns as reliable as the stock rifle. I have know home piddlers who have tried to convert their bolt rifles to feed from M14 mags, and it did not work for them. I believe it is because dimensions are very critical when it comes to feeding and extraction. Probably a couple of thousandths, maybe hundredths, and the whole thing becomes unreliable.
Personally I would like a five, ten, or twenty detachable round box magazine on a bolt gun. I think it is a great idea. However, with the exception of Lee Enfields and K31’s, you are not going to find one. Even the Swiss, with that great K31, could have created extended round magazines for that rifle, and guess what, I have never seen one.
If I were to convert a bolt rifle to an extended mag, I think the K31 would be the place start. Straight pull, accurate, powerful.
I also think a bolt action with a 20 rnd detachable magazine would be cool.
