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Best magazine system for Remington 700

5.4K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  JamesLFlowers  
#1 ·
I am in the process of changing a Rem 700 SA from an ADL setup (enclosed magazine, no baseplate) to a BDL setup (drop magazine). I am finding lots of different assembly and magazine combinations, so I am looking for some advise before I buy.

I have found...
Remington's own assembly and magazines
Third party assemblies that use AI magazines
Third party assemblies that use AW magazines
MagPul Archangel system that uses M14/M1A magazines

What are the Pros and Cons of each? Are there others? Does anyone build a drop magazine assembly for the Remington 700 that uses an M14/M1A magazine or a magazine that is shared with one of the 308 ARs?
 
#3 ·
What stock?

The AI mags are single stack and work with most of the bottom metal choices out there.

The AW are more specific and a double stack mag. Aftermarket is catching up though...

Both are good but I would get the AI mags and Badger bottom metal myself.
 
#5 ·
A bunch of people will rag on the Archangel and tell you the option is worthless unless you spend 2K on it, but my R700 shoots pretty darn good in one (AA700B) and it doesn't cost 4X your base rifle. It uses M14 mags, free floats, beds the action and is completely adjustable. The only downside is the built in bipod sucks. I screwed a piece of picatinny rail over it and put a standard bipod on it.

 
#7 ·
The reviews of the Archangel seem to be either Up or Down. Seems a run of them came out warped and really pissed some people off. There is a fix out on the internet on how to remove the bipod and mount a standard sling mount/harris style bipod. Though, mounting a short rail makes sense as well.

The whole Archangel chassis would cost me about 75-90% of what just bottom metal would. And it uses inexpensive and easily found M14 mags compare to $70-125 specialty mags. Yes, it has a lot of pros.
 
#17 ·
Quality m1a and m14 mags are far from cheap most decent ones run about 40-55 bucks. Granted that is cheap compared to the other you mentioned but not at all what I consider cheap mags.
 
#8 ·
Burned out,
Trying to get all I can for the budget I have. Does a T4/T5 Mini Chassis come with bottom metal or is it just the stock?
 
#10 ·
Hmmm, what I am seeing from Manners online is that the stocks do not come with bottom metal. But if you order the stock and the bottom metal together, Manners will do the installation free of charge. So $600-1200 for the stock and $350 for the mini chassis metal. Way outside of the budget for anything short term.

My short term is a little odd due to our friend Uncle Sam. I am being re-assigned to DOS Rosslyn for the first 6 months of 2015. So its going to be lots of work and little play for a while. So I am trying to do the best I can with the budget and parts I have onhand, which are a Remington 700 ADL I have been practicing and working up with and a spare BDL stock. Something I can shoot, enjoy, and learn on until my re-assignemnt ends and I am back down South where I can shoot more. So buying bottom metal I can transfer up to a better stock in the long run is a serious pro.
 
#12 ·
I was looking at Manners Online store rather than a third party vendor like Stockys.

BTW, thanks for the thoughts, idea, comments. Amazing how much you can learn from friends!
 
#14 ·
From your original choices-

Remington- not worth it.
AICS mags- will require inletting it. Make friends with a local guy with a mill, it's not overly hard. I've done exactly one with a dremel- don't try that if you have a stock with an aluminum chassis. You've been warned. Overall this is the best choice I think. CDI says they offer free inletting for their mag system.
AI AW mags- same inlet as AICS mags, but requires modification to the bottom of your receiver. Not worth it IMO.
AI AE mags- single stack, I think PTG offers a mag system that uses these mags and is drop-in or nearly so.
Archangel- no experience. Isn't this made by Promag, not Magpul?
 
#16 ·
There is also the Kwik Klip system that goes into a stock BDL without any inletting but since you're having to inlet anyway I wouldn't recommend it. If however you wanted to try something on the cheap, it does work. I picked up a take-off BDL stock and the Kwik Klip setup for under $200 total so if I want to drop my 700 into a super lightweight stock for hunting and still run detachables I can.
 
#18 ·
I have shot the archangel stocks and my impression is that they are GARBAGE. they may work but they are HEAVY, flimsy, and become non free floated when loaded on a bipod. I say spend a few more bucks and get a B&C or HS take off if you must go cheap. The rewards for spending a few more bucks on a quality stock are well worth it in my opinion.
 
#19 ·
Take a look at McRee's Precision Stocks. They offer many different options and will allow you to use AI mags with no modifications. They were heavily used last week at the Gastonia Sniper Conference competition. They will run you 500-700 depending on your configuration.