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Abottom metal is afirearm component typically made ofmetallic material (such asaluminium alloy orsteel), that serves as the floor of theaction and also helps to clamp thereceiver onto thestock. The bottom metal also frequently incorporates thetrigger guard,[1] for instance on theMauser 98 andM1 Garand, although a trigger guard by itself isnot considered a bottom metal.
Inrepeating firearms withinternal magazines, the bottom metal serves as the magazine floorplate and contains thespring and follower, either as a fixed solid piece or can be opened like ahinged door. Bottom metals designed to acceptdetachable magazines are calleddetachable bottom metals (DBM), and contain a rectangular reception slot called themagazine well, with alatch mechanism that securely holds the inserted magazine in place.
Single-shot firearms (e.g.SIG Sauer 200 STR) typically do not have bottom metals, and modern firearms withmetallic chassis (e.g.SIG Sauer CROSS) do not have separate bottom metals as its function is already integrated into the chassis.
Aftermarket bottom metals are available commercially for various models of modern firearms. It is not uncommon to see a firearm with an internal magazine (e.g. aRemington 700 rifle) being modified to accept various models of detachable box magazines (e.g. anAICS magazine), simply by replacing the factory bottom metal with an aftermarket one.[2]