M5 DBM and BDL Bottom Metal: What is the Difference?

A short but significant issue is the type of bottom metal you use in your bolt action rifle. This will affect just what you can do with your gun and what accessories it is compatible with. 

So today we are going to look at the differences between the M5 DBM and the BDL versions of bottom metals.

What is the Bottom Metal?

For those who may not know, this is the floor of the action in both bolt action rifles and some semi automatic rifles. It also can have the trigger guard built into it, which makes it easier to install depending on your stock.

There are three major variations: the ADL ( Average DeLuxe edition), the BDL (Better DeLuxe edition) and the DBM (Detachable Box Magazine). We’ll be focusing on the last two for the rest of this article.

The Differences Between the M5 DBM and BDL Bottom Metals

When you are selecting this part, you will need to know what you want the rifle to be able to do. The bottom metals will determine how you load ammunition into the rifle and that will have to fit into your stock. Let’s look at the BDL first since it is the earlier design. 

BDL Bottom Metals

BDL (also comes in the style of Oberndorf), is a flush fitting option for your bolt action rifle. Just like an ADL, the BDL is a self contained magazine set. It is not removable which creates less issues regarding misplacing magazines and helps ensure that the rifle will function reliably.

However, unlike the ADL, the BDL has a hinged magazine plate on the bottom. This allows the ammunition to be easily unloaded from the magazine instead of repeatedly cycling the action to empty the gun, which increases the potential of an accidental discharge.

BDLs tend to be relatively narrow and stocks that are set up for BDLs have a hole in front of the trigger area so the bottom plate can exit the stock.

M5 DBM Bottom Metals

 The M5 DBM's are engineered to accommodate detachable magazines, enabling the use of various magazine patterns such as the AICS, which is predominantly used for short action rifles. For long action systems, alternative magazines and corresponding parts are necessary. The versatility of the M5 DBM allows for rapid reloading and flexibility in magazine choice, enhancing tactical efficiency. However, due to their construction, M5 DBM units are bulkier than their BDL counterparts. This size difference necessitates either purchasing a rifle stock specifically designed for DBM systems or modifying an existing stock to fit the DBM pattern. Opting for a DBM setup offers a practical advantage in dynamic shooting environments where quick magazine changes can be crucial.

Conclusion

Depending on your caliber, stock, and whether or not you want a detachable magazine, you can easily get a number of different styles for your rifle. If you want to be able to quickly and easily top up your rifle, the DBM metal will be your go to option.

If you want a slimmer profile and less noise from the moving of the magazine, BDL style will be the better option.

We offer a number of different bottom metals from Hawkins Precision, Red Hawk, HS Precision, Wyatt Outdoors, and Grayboe to fit whatever stock, caliber, and use you might need.