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LevelHead's SWS project
Badger Floorplate
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Badger Ordnance Tactical Floorplate finished in matt black |
The Mcmillan stock I have has been inletted for a Badger Ordnance or D.D. Ross Floorplate. The stock floorplate from Remington is a piece of crap, so I figured what the Hell. At around $300, it's not a cheap option, but since this project is already rediculously expensive, what's another $300 right? I think I need professional help...
I decided to get the Badger floorplate over the D.D. Ross floorplate for two reasons: 1) I just couldn't find the D.D. Ross (Celt can get them - see the gunsmithing section for his address) 2) I figured I already had a bunch of Badger Ordnance stuff - why not complete the set?
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Badger compared to the Rem 700 Floorplate |
The Badger Ordnance Tactical Floorplate is designed to be stronger and more durable than the stock part. There is no doubt that it is. The original floorplate is garbage. It feels like cheap stamped steel from a 1950's toy gun. I will say that the magazine floorplate release does work well. Otherwise I'm happy to get rid of it.
The Badger floorplate has a substantially thicker trigger guard and is of an obiously higher quality than the original part. In my original review (found here), I stated I was not impressed with it and was in fact a bit dissapointed. That has changed.
The Badger floor plate is of substantially higher quality than the original part. The steel used is of an obviously higher grade, and the machining is top-notch. What few moving parts there are mesh up perfectly with their matching components.
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The Mag Release inside the Trigger Guard |
One point that bothers me is the magazine base release. On the cheesy original part, the button worked well even if it was cheap. On the Badger, it is all but impossible to release the door. The button is sort of a rocker assembly within the trigger guard itself which is very hard to push - almost impossible with gloves. The button is so low profile that pushing on it with the pad of your finger has little or no effect. I'm no sniper, so perhaps I'm missing something. Is this a better design for the field somehow? Should the magazine floorplate never be released easily? I'll post more if I find out, but right now I'm not thrilled with the release. Make no mistake that the design is very durable and tremendously well made - it's just hard to use. Perhaps this will get easier over time as the finish wears down.
Update: I've been told that the mag door should not be easy to open, and that it is never opened in the field, rather it is intended only for "admin" downloads. If this is the case, then I suppose the design makes sense, though I would think a design preventing accidental function should be possible without making normal function difficult.
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Spring Retention inside the Magazine Door |
In my original review I complained that the magazine follower spring did not attach to the magazine door like it does in the original. This is simply not true. The design of the magazine door is so smooth and well done that I completely missed the notches in the door until I examined it closely onder very bright light! In fact the spring retention clips are so well made that it's hard to get the spring out of the assembly!
The action screws provided with the base are high-quality Torx screws. One of the problems I had with the installation of the Badger Florplate is that the rear action screw protrudes about 1/8 of an inch out through the action. I wondered at first if I had mixed up the front and rear screws, but they only work in the correct positions. I asked Celt at H.D. Rifles about this and he said that the bolts are designed to be used in a pillar bedded stock, though he has seen some rifles where even when pillar bedded the screws need to be reduced.
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Rear action screw sticking out |
The part comes "In the white" which means it has to be finished. I opted for Celt to finish it in matt black to match the rifle. As with the other work he's done for me, the finish is excellent.
In short I think the Badger Floorplate is an excellent addition to a tactical rifle, but the magazine release could be easier to manipulate, and the cost is a bit excessive. I have no problem paying for quality, but I question why this is a $300 part and not more like a $150-$200 part. Now I should qualify that to say if the rifle is more accurate because of this part, then perhaps the money is well spent. Still if the exacting tolerances of the Badger Rings can be had for $120, then why is this so expensive?
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