Why do you use a oberndorf floorplate release?

[MaxM25]

Why is the Oberndorf floorplate release very popular on custom rifles? Is this because it looks nice or is it for a functional purpose? I have heard anecdotes about the Oberndorf release being a problem in foul weather when wearing gloves, but that is not so much of an issue in typical safari. I have also heard about the style with the push button in front of the trigger being a problem because it gets activated when shooting off fixed objects or gets bumped in other ways. The Oberndorf does certainly look cool.

 

[PCC600]

Why is the Oberndorf floorplate release very popular on custom rifles? Is this because it looks nice or is it for a functional purpose? I have heard anecdotes about the Oberndorf release being a problem in foul weather when wearing gloves, but that is not so much of an issue in typical safari. I have also heard about the style with the push button in front of the trigger being a problem because it gets activated when shooting off fixed objects or gets bumped in other ways. The Oberndorf does certainly look cool.
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I have never ever had a floor plate open on me when shooting a big Mauser rifle . By big I mean 505 Gibbs , 416 Rigby or 425 WR . All are high quality rifles . All are shot frequently .

 

[Russ16]

I’ll be the contrarian and say I really don’t like the look. I think anything in the trigger guard looks messy. I prefer the look of a button outside the trigger guard.

I think if properly made neither style should open accidentally.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The Oberndorf style floor plate release is not a turn off for me. But I personally prefer rifles where the magazine floor plate release catch is located OUTSIDE the trigger guard (i.e Winchester Model 70, BRNO ZKK series, CZ 550 series).

White hunter John Coleman famously got mauled by a lioness while using his .458 Winchester Magnum BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) Majestic. The lioness ambushed him and bit the barrel of his rifle. While struggling to tug the rifle away from her, his trigger finger accidentally struck the magazine floor plate release catch (which was located inside the trigger guard). This caused the floor plate to pop open and dump all the remaining cartridges onto the ground. John’s tracker saved his life by killing the lion with John’s .338 Winchester Magnum.

Prior to an eland hunt, I also had the same problem occur in camp with another BSA Majestic (chambered in .30-06 Springfield) when my knuckle accidentally struck the magazine floor plate release catch during recoil.

 

[uplander01]

I've never had this style of floorplate open on me inadvertently. When done correctly it should be a pretty firm press on the inside the trigger guard button. A large trigger guard opening is yet another refinement the GMA action provides over the traditional M98. I don't use the floorplate to unload either.

 

[mdwest]

Ive got a M98 with one.. it really isn't any different than any other floorplate release IMO.. they either work.. or they don't (some have a reputation for releasing under heavy recoil.. others are I believe just as secure as a fixed (non releasable) floorplate.. without an intentional act from the operator, they wont release..

Mine is on a 416 Taylor (heavy recoiling gun).. its a cast bottom metal that has very nice artwork (its not engraving, but I don't know how to properly describe it) on the floorplate.. It came off a parker hale custom from the 70's.. I picked it up because it looked "fancy", and it was affordable (I think I paid something like $45 for the entire bottom metal).. I figured I'd give it a try, and if it couldn't handle the 416, I'd put it on one of my other mausers..

Ive got a few hundred rounds through the 416 at this point.. and its never failed... not once.. so on the 416 is where it will stay..

 

[IvW]

Only floorplate that opened on me was a Sako 375........borrowed rifle......duct tape sorted that out for the remainder of the hunt......

 

[RedTag]

The only thing I want inside the trigger guard, other than the trigger itself, is the safety on M1/M14 type auto-loading rifles. I want the magazine release and bolt release located elsewhere.

 

[Huvius]

I like the trigger bow release and haven’t ever had an issue with any.
You refer to it as the “Oberndorf” style but traditionally that would be the lever style release such as this one:

Oberndorf Mauser Style Floor Plate Lever Release

Made by master gunmaker Elmar Bonn these lever releases closely match the popular German design. Installation by a competent gunsmith and modification to the floorplate is required. Instructions available upon request. A popular custom addition to Mauser custom rifles in the early 1900’s in...

www.myersarms.com

The trigger bow design may have even originated with the 1909 Argentine Mauser - not really sure.
Maybe Speed’s book says something about it.