I was looking at some Savage 11/111 rifles recently and noticed the new (to me) design. Instead of a magazine with a metal floor plate and metal release lever, it is all plastic.

The plastic release lever looks really cheap and feels like it will wear/break easily.

The button in front of the new PLASTIC trigger guard is also a design feature I do not care for.

When did this occur? All of my older 111's have metal parts. Is this the new trend for Savage?

I realize plastic is cheaper and lighter, but it just seems so cheap to put that on a Savage rifle.

Are people here having good or bad experiences with these new "improvements?"