Anyone shooting a JAE Gen5?
- Thread starter oldnewguy
- Start date
I had one for a bit (bottom chassis).
They’re nice, just had to get super excited about coming from the G4. I know the plan was to cuts costs by simplifying manufacturing, but all the little shortcuts annoy me.
Nice smooth machined details replaced with square/flat surfaces, no adjustable magwell, making it non compatible with the previous gen extended arca rails etc.
I still like it, but I’d prefer to pay more for a G4.
They’re nice, just had to get super excited about coming from the G4. I know the plan was to cuts costs by simplifying manufacturing, but all the little shortcuts annoy me.
Nice smooth machined details replaced with square/flat surfaces, no adjustable magwell, making it non compatible with the previous gen extended arca rails etc.
I still like it, but I’d prefer to pay more for a G4.
What does the JAE do better than McMillans? I don't think I've ever handled one but I have always been curious about them.
While a lot of stocks, not so much chassis, feel similar nothing feels as nice to handle as a Mcmillan A4 or A5 in my opinion. I should get one someday.
The grip and grip angle is really nice if it fits your hand. Adjustable magwell to fit different mags (pre-G5) - though you can get DBMs for McM to accomplish something similar. Accessories like ARCA rail, NV Bridge, bag rider, and pic rails are available and easily added with no gunsmithing required.
The downsides are cost, and a more complicated design than a stock like an McM. There's a ton of carbon steel fasteners that won't take too kindly to being left wet.
I honestly debated about swapping them all out with SS fasteners, but didn't bother with the time or expense of doing so. After having most of my fasteners rust after a very wet 2-day PRS match I was pretty annoyed, but MDT took care of me.
However, I'm now tempted to swap over to something like a Foundation in order to not have to worry about fasteners rusting. Sometimes simple is best. As much as I love my JAEs...
I have had two OG JAE's (like from J Allen company before they sold to MDT)....just sold one not too long back as it was excess to requirements and I liked the one I kept better for a few inconsequential reasons.
LOVE this chassis...feels like a stock, dead on recoil like a stock, like a stock as its not cold or hard on the hands from sharp corners, and as mentioned no gunsmithing and the like needed for...well, pretty much anything.
Personally, I think MDT sat on the JAE far too long before releasing their first version of it and hence lost momentum for the product and allowed competitors to issue products that also filled that market niche. 5-6 years ago, a JAE showing up for sale on this board was gone in a NY second.
Now, not so much.
There were a few features I wish my OG JAE's had....1) shorter LOP...to this end, I had the thinnest Kick-eez pad ground to fit and put it on there...bought me about .5-.75" (and MDT did shorten the minimum LOP); 2) it would be nice to be able to raise the pad vertically; 3) grip was too angled and far back for my little girl hands so I sent MKM a chassis to take measurements off of and they produced a modified, more vertical and closer to trigger shoe, grip that is available on their website (well, you can B.O. one and they will print it...not much sense in stocking a bunch of them now that MDT changes the grip mechanical interface)
LOVE this chassis...feels like a stock, dead on recoil like a stock, like a stock as its not cold or hard on the hands from sharp corners, and as mentioned no gunsmithing and the like needed for...well, pretty much anything.
Personally, I think MDT sat on the JAE far too long before releasing their first version of it and hence lost momentum for the product and allowed competitors to issue products that also filled that market niche. 5-6 years ago, a JAE showing up for sale on this board was gone in a NY second.
Now, not so much.
There were a few features I wish my OG JAE's had....1) shorter LOP...to this end, I had the thinnest Kick-eez pad ground to fit and put it on there...bought me about .5-.75" (and MDT did shorten the minimum LOP); 2) it would be nice to be able to raise the pad vertically; 3) grip was too angled and far back for my little girl hands so I sent MKM a chassis to take measurements off of and they produced a modified, more vertical and closer to trigger shoe, grip that is available on their website (well, you can B.O. one and they will print it...not much sense in stocking a bunch of them now that MDT changes the grip mechanical interface)
Last edited:
