Since their introduction, the Hawkins Precision Hunter flush Magazines have been a hit for folks wanting to run magazines in their custom hunting rifles that are handy, light, and flush to the bottom of the stock. Paired with a Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM, it’s a great combination.
However, what if you have a factory rifle from Bergara, Christensen Arms, Fierce, Springfield Waypoint 2020, Weatherby 307, etc. Will the Hawkins bottom metal and magazines work?
We’ve been working with our partners, visiting with companies at trade shows, and learning what you’ll need to upgrade your rifle to our magazines and bottom metal. Here’s what we found out.
Bergara Rifles –
Bergara makes some of the finest factory rifles on the market. They are known for their excellent barrels and craftsmanship. The Hawkins Hunter Flush Magazines work in several of their rifles. (See note below for Long Action caliber rifles, and Bergara Rifles with BDL bottom metals/inlets.)
Bergara Premier Series Rifles –
Premier MG Lite – Use Hawkins Chassis Hunter Magazine – Short Action Only. Calibers: 308 WIN, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
Premier Divide – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers: 308 WIN, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
Premier Canyon – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC.
Premier HMR Pro – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC
B-14 Wilderness Series Rifles –
HMR Carbon & HMR Wilderness – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC
Wilderness Terrain – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC
B-14 Series Rifles –
- B-14 Squared Crest – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC
- B-14 HMR – Use Hawkins Hunter Magazines – Short Action Only. Calibers 308WIN, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC
Long Action Rifles – If you have one of the above Bergara rifles in long action with a detachable box magazine (DBM) bottom metal, you will need to replace your bottom metal with a long action Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM. Bergara runs an M5-ish inlet on those stocks as represented in the photos, there will need to be inletting done on your stock to run the long action Hunter DBM.
Once you have updated your inlet and swapped in your long action (LA) Hunter DBM bottom metal, you can now use hunter flush magazines.
You must run a LA Hunter magazine in a Hunter DBM. These magazines are optimized to run calibers without a belt, though they will feed belted cartridges.
BDL/Hinged Floorplate Bergara Rifles – If your Bergara has a hinged floorplate / internal box / BDL bottom metal set-up you will need to have your stock inletted to an M5 inlet to run the Hunter DBM. It is a simple process for most gunsmiths with an endmill. Let us know if you need a recommendation for stock and inlet work.
Christensen Arms Rifles-
Christensen Arms is well known for their carbon fiber barrel technology, making some of the lightest hunting rifles on the market. While most of their rifles come with BDL/hinged floorplate bottom metals, some have DBMs. We’ll cover both.
Christensen Arms BDL Bottom Metal Conversations –
If you’re looking to upgrade your BDL to a Hunter flush magazine system on your Christensen, there’s a few things to keep in mind. You will need to have your stock inletted to an M5 inlet and you may have to install the Hawkins pillars into your stock as Christensen has bonded pillars. This is likely a trip to the gunsmith for your rifle.
After that, Christensen does allow for added COAL on all of their action designs. Meaning you can run the long Hawkins Hunter magazines in all of their actions without issue once your stock has been fitted to the correct inlet and pillar height.
DBM Pillar Heights –
Short – .72” F / 1.08” R
Long – .67” F / 1.057” R
DBM Bottom Metal Equipped Christensen Rifles –
The BA Tactical, TFM, and the Ridgeline Scout are three Christensen rifles that come with AICS compatible bottom metals. However, the bonded pillar heights are .860” and 1.320”. You will find if you want to use a Hawkins Hunter Magazine in say a Ridgeline Scout, the magazine will not fully insert into the DBM, and that is due to the pillar heights.
In this case you’d also be looking at installing Hawkins Precision pillars and M5 inlet modifications from your gunsmith to make the magazines seat and feed well. The other option would be a new stock from places such as Manners, Foundation, McMillan, AG Composites, Peak 44, Forge Carbon, PSE Rifle Stocks, WOOX, etc.
Springfield Waypoint 2020 –
Springfield’s Waypoint 2020 is another rifle that features DBM bottom metal in the short action that will run Hawkins Hunter magazines. Please note we have had reports of the early 2023 batch of Waypoint 2020 rifles has tight fitting magazines. This is due to some tolerance variations in the Waypoint bottom metals. Earlier 2022 and earlier models work well with the Hunter magazines though.
We are working with Springfield to adjust the specs on the bottom metals so they accept the magazines, as they have been very popular in the Waypoint 2020s. A Short Action Hawkins Hunter DBM bottom metal will also fit right into the Waypoint M5 inlet.
This means you can upgrade your rifle to a Hunter DBM and run the flush magazines should your Hunter magazine be tight. Or do some light sanding on the back of the magazine. You only need to remove a few thousandths of material to allow them to fit.
However, as mentioned as of Summer 2023 most of these issues should be sorted.
Conclusion –
Hopefully this article was helpful, but if you have any further questions please feel free to reach out to us at cs@hawkinsprecision.com. If you need assistance in finding a gunsmith that does inlet work, we can help there as well!