A good way to compare stocks and chassis?

[Jackomason]

With so many options with both stocks and chassis its easy to get lost in the mix. On that note I dont have many chances to handle other peoples precision rifles. How do you weigh your options before deciding what you want? What are the deal brakers you look for? How much is subjective and how much is objective?

I intend to make the drive a couple times a year to attend some "loacal" matches. But 90% of my shooting is field/coyote hunting.

Im considering the Manners T4a, MPA BA lite and the MDT ess.

At this point I really like the ess but I dont have the finances to be changing things up all the time if I make the wrong decision. Would I be best off buying a budget chassis and attening local matches?

I dont nessisarily want to hear what to choose but how to choose.

 

[CShooter92]

If you're coyote hunting in the winter, consider that a chassis will likely feel a lot colder to the touch due to it being metal (depending which one you choose) vs. a fiberglass or Carbon stock.

I went with a carbon Manners T5A for my rifle thats used for a couple local matches a year but then a coyote/hunting rig for the rest. I prefer the feel of a stock. Manners offers a lot of their stocks with different barricade systems now and there are arca components available as well.

If you can, see if you can handle some at a match or gunsmith to see what you prefer.

 

[Precisiondada]

Manners may be able to send you a stock or two to try with payment for shipping. I’d give them a call and speak with Robert or Matt next week after Shot is over

 

[C_R_Slacker]

Hang out or RO at a match. You'll get to see and handle lots of different options and talk to the owners about the pros/cons of their gear.

 

[Sogan]

If you're coyote hunting in the winter, consider that a chassis will likely feel a lot colder to the touch due to it being metal (depending which one you choose) vs. a fiberglass or Carbon stock.

I went with a carbon Manners T5A for my rifle thats used for a couple local matches a year but then a coyote/hunting rig for the rest. I prefer the feel of a stock. Manners offers a lot of their stocks with different barricade systems now and there are arca components available as well.

If you can, see if you can handle some at a match or gunsmith to see what you prefer.

I’d say one perk of winter shooting with a chassis is the ability to quickly adjust the LOP to take into account your extra layers

 

[Jackomason]

If you're coyote hunting in the winter, consider that a chassis will likely feel a lot colder to the touch due to it being metal (depending which one you choose) vs. a fiberglass or Carbon stock.

I went with a carbon Manners T5A for my rifle thats used for a couple local matches a year but then a coyote/hunting rig for the rest. I prefer the feel of a stock. Manners offers a lot of their stocks with different barricade systems now and there are arca components available as well.

If you can, see if you can handle some at a match or gunsmith to see what you prefer.

The expirience I have with stocks/chassis come from a 700 in a B&C stock and a ruger rpr. I didnt know much when I put together the 700 but it was comfortable. So was the ruger though. My only problems with the ruger is a habit of being lazy on the grip, Ill have a good full wrap the first shot but after running the bolt its natural for me to get lazy and float the thumb because it feels like a distraction trying to get my thumb back around. But i think some focused dry fire will cure that.

But all else is equal and I can't argue with the adjustability of a chassis. The cold doesnt bother me though.

 

[Alpine 338]

I prefer a wide forend, and most chassis systems have a narrow forend. I prefer the McMillan A5 or Manners T2, as they fit my hand perfectly. The McMillan in my opinion being the better stock of the two. You can buy both stocks with adjustable LOP and cheekrest. Most chassis systems do offer a little more options in adjustability though. I had an XLR Envy, and molded a piece of Kydex in the shape of a Sako TRG forend (very similar to the A5/T2 in size), and attached it, covering the aluminum forend.

The other thing I prefer with a traditional stock over a chassis, most chassis are too light in the butt end, and I run M24 and HV contour barrels, and with a traditional stock, the rifle balances much better.

Now I'm not anti-chassis, had a couple AICS chassis, and they are bomb-proof. I have recently purchased a Magpul PRO 700 chassis, and really like it. It balances well, and the ergonomics are perfect for me. I will make a Kydex cover for the forend to make it wider, and not feel cold during the Winter.

 

[Jackomason]

I prefer a wide fore end, and most chassis systems have a narrow fore end. I prefer the McMillan A5 or Manners T2, as they fit my hand perfectly. The McMillan in my opinion being the better stock of the two. You can buy both stocks with adjustable LOP and cheekrest. Most chassis systems do offer a little more options in adjustability though. I had an XLR Envy, and molded a piece of Kydex in the shape of a Sako TRG fore end (very similar to the A5/T2 in size), and attached it, covering the aluminum fore end.

The other thing I prefer with a traditional stock over a chassis, most chassis are too light in the butt end, and I run M24 and HV contour barrels, and with a traditional stock, the rifle balances much better.

Now I'm not anti-chassis, had a couple AICS chassis, and they are bomb-proof. I have recently purchased a Magpul PRO 700 chassis, and really like it. It balances well, and the ergonomics are perfect for me. I will make a Kydex cover for the fore end to make it wider, and not feel cold during the Winter.

Thanks for the insite, is the wider forend only for off hand/carrying purposes or do you like it better for competition reasons? It looks to me like the ESS has a forgrip section specifically for off hand shooting, i dont know if a wider forend would help or hinder on baracades esspecially uneven/natural ones. Now that I think about it, I do like how rear bags ride on a stock as well.

 

[Alpine 338]

Yes, I like the wider forend for both carrying, and shooting off hand. For a traditional barricade made out of plywood and 2X4's, I don't thing the wider forend has that much advantage, but for things like hay bails, and other non-solid things, a wider forend does have a slight advantage.

I forget to mention the rear bag thing, and glad you brought that up, as a traditional stock is more compatible and work easier with a rear bag.