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Gunsmithing BO M5 running AW mags

deadly0311

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Mar 2, 2009
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Birmingham, AL
does anyone know what is involved in getting a Rem 700 SA and BO M5 to run AW mags, if this has been discussed please point me in the right direction. Searched and turned up nothing
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

AW/AWP mags will fit perfect in the magwells set up for AICS mags. Feed rails of your action need to be altered with some other light cuts at the bottom and the feed ramp needs to be altered. Depending on your Z-axis dimension when your bottom metal was bedded, the mag latch may need to be altered slightly.

We are running some AW mags on a couple of SENTINELS using the Surgeon M591 action.
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

Dave, at American Precision Arms said that it can be done. contact him and he will take care of you

requires milling of the action and your action will only be able to take detachable mags in the future.

i would go for it if it was me
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

To add to the discussion, I had my build done on a Rem 700 action that was originally a DBM from Remington. Had Badger M5 installed and am currently running AICS mags.

First, have the feed rails of my action already been taken off? As I understand it, the Rem700 DBM actions ARE different than BDL and ADL.

Second, where can one find the AW mags?
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sawgunner2001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">To add to the discussion, I had my build done on a Rem 700 action that was originally a DBM from Remington. Had Badger M5 installed and am currently running AICS mags.

First, have the feed rails of my action already been taken off? As I understand it, the Rem700 DBM actions ARE different than BDL and ADL.

Second, where can one find the AW mags? </div></div>

AW mags can be had from Bauer Arms.

As for the Remington factory DM you would still need to do some machining to the feed rails and the feed ramp to get the AW to work. You also need to push the mag opening slightly forward to allow the full use of the mag. If you want the AICS mag to work without pushing up into the receiver blocking the bolt you need to know how much to machine to keep this from happening. The receiver is used to block the AICS from push up any further then it needs to.
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
AW mags can be had from Bauer Arms.

As for the Remington factory DM you would still need to do some machining to the feed rails and the feed ramp to get the AW to work. You also need to push the mag opening slightly forward to allow the full use of the mag. If you want the AICS mag to work without pushing up into the receiver blocking the bolt you need to know how much to machine to keep this from happening. The receiver is used to block the AICS from push up any further then it needs to. </div></div>

Thank you!!
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

I have plenty of AW mags in stock if needed guys, thanks Randy for the plug!

I also have M5's available with the AW mag instead of the AICS mag if anyone needs a kit.

Cheers,

Adam
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

So the OP has me curious. Are there any cons with running AW mags with a Badger M5 on a Surgeon tactical action? Why isn't everyone running this instead of the AICS mags then? What am I missing here?

Also, how difficult is it to retrofit an existing rifle with same specs as above that is currently setup for AICS mags?

Heck the top loading and shorter mag lengths seem like a no brainer!
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hazardus</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So the OP has me curious. Are there any cons with running AW mags with a Badger M5 on a Surgeon tactical action? Why isn't everyone running this instead of the AICS mags then? What am I missing here?

Also, how difficult is it to retrofit an existing rifle with same specs as above that is currently setup for AICS mags?

Heck the top loading and shorter mag lengths seem like a no brainer! </div></div>

Because you need to mod the action and this isn't something that should be done with a Dremel. I've re-machined BDL receivers all the time but it cost money and most don't want to spend the funds on a factory action or add the extra funds to the custom. This is why my Guardian rifle will be made this way from the get go. Give it time and I'm sure Surgeon, Lawton, Stiller and some others will be offering this at some point.
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Give it time and I'm sure Surgeon, Lawton, Stiller and some others will be offering this at some point. </div></div>

Maybe even Badger...
whistle.gif
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Give it time and I'm sure Surgeon, Lawton, Stiller and some others will be offering this at some point. </div></div>

Maybe even Badger...
whistle.gif
</div></div>

Yes but that's a whole other animal and not exactly a Remington footprint per say.
 
Re: BO M5 running AW mags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kombayotch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is a post that shows it.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=386203&page=2

Would also like to have it done... </div></div>

Those pics don't show or tell the whole story.

This is something that I don't recommend doing unless you are doing a new build. The mill work to the action is fairly straight forward but the fitting of the bottom metal in relation to the action can be a little tricky.

With the AICS mag you have a little leeway in the tolerance between the bottom metal and action, even so this must be done just right to have reliable feeding. With the AW mag the leeway is not so much.

If you already have an action and bottom metal that is already bedded and you mod the action for the AW mag there is no garentee that it will feed. The mag could lock but could be too far from the action, or too close, to allow it to feed reliably. For this reason I only do this mod on complete builds where I can control the fitting of the bottom metal or barreled action that will be bedded later by the user.

Also if too much metal is removed from the action to allow the AW mag to work both the AICS and AW mags will then push up into the action too far with any upward pressure allowing the bolt to hit the feed lips of the mags keeping the bolt from moving forward.

If you look at the AICS mag you will see the front of the mag has a radius cut into the front plate to fit the bottom contour of the action. This is what stops the mag from pushing up into the action. The AW mag does not have this radius and if you mode the action the wrong way, removing too much material to clear the front plate, the AW mag will also push up to deep into the action with upward pressure.

I've done many AW mods and my custom Guardian action is cut for the AW and AICS mags from the get go. I mod the Remington action in such a way that it does not require any mods to the AW mags, will lock both AW and AICS mags but will also allows the action to be a positive stop keeping both the AW and AICS mags in the proper position not allowing it to push up into the action with upward pressure blocking the bolt.