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Gunsmithing PTG DBM problem

nso123

High Speed Steel Stinger
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 20, 2010
1,242
1,600
Tennessee
I just installed a PTG DBM in my McMillan HTG stock, and noticed that the AICS magazine does not fit tight in the mag well. I was afraid that it would fail to feed, and sure enough, it does not feed. I can push the bottom of the magazine up, and it feeds fine. The magazine is a factory AI .223 mag. Is this something unique? Does the DBM not work with the .223 mags? I would think that the mags all seat at the same depth, but this mag almost feels sloppy in the mag well.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

I run the PTG bottom metal in 3 rifles, one of them being a .223, and it feeds and functions perfectly. I've put a hell of a lot of rounds through the .223 this year, and it's works wonderfully.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

My problem is that the magazine has about 1/16 of an inch of vertical travelwhen it is locked in place. If I push it up, it works, but if I let it hang by gravity, the bolt does not catch the round at all.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

Please explain on the spacing being off. I very well could have something off. I inletted the stock to allow the DBM to seat to the line on the DBM. If it went in any deeper, the metal would be well beyond flush in the stock.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AJ Goddard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most bottom metals come with pillars. These pillars set the distance of the bottom metal to the action. The bottom metal does not allways set flush with the bottom of the stock. </div></div>

That is going to be the problem most likely. I was just test fitting everything, and had not installed the pillars yet. Thanks for the tip.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

I put a PTG bottom in an HS Precision stock and decided not to use the pillars in the end. However, I assembled the bottom metal to the action without the stock with the pillars and measured the gap under the action. I inletted the bottom of the stock so that when assembled, the bottom metal was the same distance from the action. So far so good.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

If the bottom metal is too far from the action then installing pillars is not going to fix that. Put the action and dbm together without the stock, and see hoe it functions then. if it funcions then then you will probably have to have the stock inletted deeper for the bottom metal.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

Test fitting like ajwcottom suggested is a very good idea. The pillars should set the action to bottom metal distance correctly so the mag latch holds the magazine at the proper height for reliable feeding.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

Stocks vary in depth thus the need to use the supplied pillars to set the correct action to bottm metal height. Most of the better after market stocks have been engineered with Surgeon or Badger bottom metal in mind to set flush on the bottom. But again there are allways slight variations. The qustion becomes do you want to look good or do you want it to function.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I checked it out today, and it needed just a little more inletting. Got that done, and it is slick as butter now.
 
Re: PTG DBM problem

I can make you custom pillars if you ever need any. Thanks Dave @ PTG