Chassis or Stock for Vudoo V22?

[Cmkaco]

Looking at the Vudoo, and I like the J Allen chassis, but not sure I want to spend that much more for the gun. So, I am looking at the KRG bravo chassis versus the Grayboe Ridgeback stock. Grayboe says, in their FAQ, they have not seen any significant improvement in accuracy by bedding the stock. I am kind of wondering what they call significant?

I am new to all of this, and actually had to Google what a chassis was. So, now that I know, still wondering exactly how they work. Is a chassis CNC machined to that exact action that having the action bedded would be pointless? It looks like they have an aluminum bed in the chassis with a couple of pillars that the action screws into. Is there any space around the action for bedding, or is it not needed?

If the Grayboe doesn't need bedding, then what makes that a stock and not a chassis? Is there any advantage to one or the other, because it seems like you could drop whatever Remington 700 style action you buy into either. Please pardon my newbie ignorance, and thanks for you help.

 

[RyanM]

I have my Vudoo in a Bravo and like it a lot. I really like the ergos of my KRG stocks. I am a regular sized guy and find that the grip angle and spacing to the trigger is just about perfect.

A chassis is more of a one size fits all system than a specifically made piece. Some guys do bed a chassis. Does it make it more accurate? I am not sure. I have produced lots of good groups in a chassis and lots of good groups in a bedded stock.

The fit of the stock is probably going to affect your groups more than whether it is bedded or not.

I would recommend asking to handle a couple if you can to get the one that feels best to you.

 

[Cmkaco]

Thanks. I take it that by "fit" you mean, fit to me, ie. , length of pull, cheek weld, etc, and not how the action fits the stock.

 

[RyanM]

Correct. The fit to you is paramount.

 

[JPOPS]

I went back and forth multiple times. I ended up off of the JAE700 (it’s heavy heavy) and ended up ordering an MPA ba competition chassis and a KRG bravo for my wife.

I did get a chance yesterday to get behind a friend of mines JAE in 6.5 and it is a glorious thing. Kind of made me second guess my decision. I do honestly believe it’s BIS. However, like I said it’s pretty darn heavy. @Dthomas3523 runs a JAE700 and actually competes so surely he will have better insight.

As far as the ridgeback goes I did initially want to go this route. It’s a nice stock but I just had a hard time seeing the advantage of it over a chassis for a few hundred extra.

Best thing is you can switch anytime.

 

[brianf]

i happen to like chassis better, the only down side is see is that they are usually heavier.

other than that they usually have more adjustments to fit the shooter and more after market accessories available.
yes most "regular" stocks need to be bedded.
that means that the inside of the stock where the action fits is not uniform and needs to be filled up around the action for a perfect fit.

a chassis is usually a V shaped channel which the action fits into, as long as your action is machined well (like a custom or vudoo) they mate very well and dont need filler to make a nice fit.

i put it in a AX.
havnt shot 22lr in many years and thought the vudoo 22lr thing was just the newest and hottest...
this is now the first rifle i grab over the past 2-3 month of ownership.
dont worry about spending on a chassis (if you can afford it) you will put more time on this than your other rifles guaranteed.

and with a chassis/no bedding you can take your vudoo action out and put in another barreled action immediately. if there is bedding involved you need to grind out the old bedding/filler and then fit the stock for the new action. pain in ass, and takes more than 30 seconds for no real benefit unless you have a warped action or are shooting crazy benchrest stuff.

 

[Cmkaco]

If I recall correctly, the Ridgeback stock option is actually a few hundred dollars more than the KRG chassis, which is odd. But that J Allen chassis, though. . .

 

[JPOPS]

The JAE700 is definitely the looker out of all of them. That’s for sure

 

[WadeKow]

These were the two I liked best when I ordered my Vudoo. The decision was made for me though, as the KRG isn't available in lefthand. I'll let you know what I think of the Ridgeback when it arrives in a few weeks. After reading all of the reviews and talking to others about it, I'm sure I'll be pleased.

 

[Cmkaco]

I read a review of chassis (is that a plural as well as singular?) and the comment on the Bravo was that is "flimsy." I have not see anybody make that comment elsewhere. I have seen some comments that the forend and rear do not align very well when assembled.

 

[EddieE]

I read a review of chassis (is that a plural as well as singular?) and the comment on the Bravo was that is "flimsy." I have not see anybody make that comment elsewhere. I have seen some comments that the forend and rear do not align very well when assembled.

I have an Xray (same as the bravo, different back end). New they sold over $600. I love the fit and finish of mine. It is not flimsy at all. Some say they flex, I don't see it flexing under the kind of recoil you see in 22. I have shot the best groups of my life with the KRG using a stock CZ 455.

 

[z7.jled]

I have an Xray (same as the bravo, different back end). New they sold over $600. I love the fit and finish of mine. It is not flimsy at all. Some say they flex, I don't see it flexing under the kind of recoil you see in 22. I have shot the best groups of my life with the KRG using a stock CZ 455.

I use an X-ray for my 308 win, it will flex a little if you load the crap out of the bipod, Phil veleyo has talked about it, but if you don’t overdo it, there is no hesitation using it for a vudoo
My 308 is a 1/2 minute gun with a bipod/rear bag now that I have learned how to run it “right”

I’d have no hesitation using one for a vudoo

 

[StrayDog]

OP, it all really depends on what you want to do with your Vudoo. Different shooting disciplines benefit from different setups. I doubt we'll ever be able to quantity the accuracy differences in chassis vs bedding for most .22 positional shooting.
So what's your goal with the tool?
Bench for bugholes? NRL.22? Woods shootin?
I am into the NRL.22 game lately, but go shoot dot drills prone or off benches to get away.
AND I have the left-handed stock ADHD real bad.
I really like a Manners T4A all around, but thick forends can be hard to squeeze into barricades or under chair backs, etc., so I'm gonna try an MPA for the slim forends that sit close to bore line. You can see where this goes...
You will likely experiment with gear and then be able to better choose the options and fitments you desire with experience. The more you dryfire, practice, and shoot, the more informed your decisions will be. YMMV, blah blah.
Plus, accumulating and flipping chassis and gear is part of the fun, welcome to the sickness.
You will love the Vudoo no matter which stock she's wearing.
Good luck! And post pics.

 

[Cmkaco]

I understand. So, for me, starting out with benchrest to figure out how to shoot the rifle, the challenge, how the scopes work, positions etc. I have heard about the NRL.22 competitions, and they sound fun.

On the Manners T4A, is that bedded? Did you buy that from Vudoo, and have it bedded by them, or did you buy the barreled action, and send it to somebody else to bed the stock?

 

[StrayDog]

I use Manners' mini-chassis, almost entirely because they're so easy to use and avoid bedding. Just bolt the action in, use a good inch-pound torque wrench (borka for me), and shoot!
Both bought separately, much older stock.

 

[Rthur]

Bravo/X-ray/Oryx three chassis in the lower end of the chassis game.

R

 

[Dthomas3523]

J. Allen is hands down the most comfortable chassis I have run.

Unfortunately I have schmedium hands and the angle doesn’t work 100% for me to get a 90 degree trigger without having to think about my hand placement. I was considering having the grip altered to get a little closer.

But I changed my centerfire rig to an AI-AT. The grip works perfectly for my hand size. I have since swapped my vudoo to an AT.

I also finally jumped on the Triggertech diamond bandwagon from Huber. It’s all personal preference, but the TT is badass. My shitty non digital trigger scale says its about 8oz pull. I can continually drop the rifle on the butt from 3ft without safety engaged and it never fires. I literally have to spear throw the rifle into the floor to get it to fire. Drop safe triggers are pretty important to me personally.

Back on topic, if the JAE gives you the proper trigger finger position, just get it. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Dthomas3523]

I’d also recommend the Manners PRS1. Very nice and a popular choice for vudoos.

 

[Winchester59]

I recently received my Vudoo in the Grayboe Ridgeback and I love it. I thought long and hard about the J Allen, but just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money. The only thing I don't like about the Ridgeback stock is the ugly M Lock metal slats on the side of the stock. I really don't see much need for them on a Precision Rifle. I doubt if I will ever mount a light or laser on my Vudoo.

 

[10xk9]

I have 2 Vudoos. My first one is in a Greyboe stock, my newest one is in a MPA chassis.
I love shooting them both but for what I do mostly with them (NRL22 competition) I prefer the MPA chassis set up.

 

[longrange2]

I’ve got mine in a Manners PRS2 with mini chassis and it is working out great. I like the PRS2 and T6A stocks.

 

[Rob01]

I’ve got mine in a Manners PRS2 with mini chassis and it is working out great. I like the PRS2 and T6A stocks.

Same here. I like the PRS2 with mini chassis. Just bolt in and go. Never a fan of AR grips on bolt guns like most chassis set ups come with and having the Manners with the same ease of bolt in and go and a more traditional stock feel is great.

 

[JPOPS]

@Rob01

I’m not usually a fan of a color scheme like your stock but that looks really nice. I Like the vertical lines on it. Breaks it up a little ??

 

[Rob01]

Thanks. Had the old camo schemes before but not using the rifles to stalk the Taliban so might as well have some color. LOL

The lines are the carbon fiber of the shell. Here is a closer pic. Manners stocks are very strong with the carbon fiber shells.

 

[Cmkaco]

dthomas3523, where you running a 2 stage Huber or single. I looked at the Trigertech Diamond, and it is a single stage. Just wondering if you liked the single stage with no creep better than a 2 stage where you have to take up the first stage first? Both your Vudoo setups looks great.

I also finally jumped on the Triggertech diamond bandwagon from Huber. It’s all personal preference, but the TT is badass. My shitty non digital trigger scale says its about 8oz pull. I can continually drop the rifle on the butt from 3ft without safety engaged and it never fires. I literally have to spear throw the rifle into the floor to get it to fire. Drop safe triggers are pretty important to me personally.

 

[Cmkaco]

Also looking at those carbon fiber Manners stocks, because I like the look, and the features, especially with the mini chassis mentioned above. Not much into colors, so I need to see if they do a plain carbon fiber. But, if I had to do color, I would go with the Americana.

 

[Armorman]

I went with a Greyboe Ridgeback. I'm bedding mine because I feel the guys with Chassis systems are seeing slightly better accuracy than me. Looking back now I probably would go with a Chassis just to avoid the bedding process. I've never attempted a bedding job before so I'm a little nervous! That being said....my Ridgeback looks great. I love the feel of the stock. It's a well built stock in my opinion.

 

[Cmkaco]

Nice! What bipod is that? It looks like it would hold up a car. Is that an M-Lok specific bipod?

 

[Armorman]

That's a LRA F-Class bipod attached via M-Lok to picatinny rail adapter.

 

[sabrecross]

I went with a Greyboe Ridgeback. I'm bedding mine because I feel the guys with Chassis systems are seeing slightly better accuracy than me. Looking back now I probably would go with a Chassis just to avoid the bedding process. I've never attempted a bedding job before so I'm a little nervous! That being said....my Ridgeback looks great. I love the feel of the stock. It's a well built stock in my opinion.

Another option is to just bed the recoil lug...

 

[Rob01]

Also looking at those carbon fiber Manners stocks, because I like the look, and the features, especially with the mini chassis mentioned above. Not much into colors, so I need to see if they do a plain carbon fiber. But, if I had to do color, I would go with the Americana.

You don;t have to get any specific camo pattern. You can have them do one you like or just go with their usual camo. Here's their color page. https://mannersstocks.com/color-and-finishes/

 

[Dschapp44]

I’ve had mine in a Mega Orias, KRG whiskey 3, and it’s not in a manners PRS2 with the mini chassis now. It’s shoot lites out in all three and I loved it in the KRG chassis which was heavier and easier to shoot off of the bench but I switched to the manners to match my PRS rifles. It’s a lot lighter and easier to move around which I like a lot but it lets me know if I’m slacking and the groups will open up. It’s an amazing stock though and would highly recommend it.

 

[Cmkaco]

Looks great. Not sure what you mean by slacking - trigger press, grip?

 

[Dschapp44]

Grip pressure and getting lazy with thumb placement. It still shoots lights out. Cleaning 1/4 inch plates on a kyl racks is a breeze

 

[Dschapp44]

Juat got back from shooting it at 200 and 300 yards. WIth SK Yellow box it took me 17 MOA to reach 200 with a 100 yard zero and 44.5 MOA to reach 300. The gun was dead on a 2 inch plate at 200 and a 6 inch plate at 300 yards off of a Tripod

 

[Cmkaco]

Did you get the 20 MOA rail they suggest? Do most scopes have enough adjustablity to handle this?

 

[Dschapp44]

Did you get the 20 MOA rail they suggest? Do most scopes have enough adjustablity to handle this?

I went with the 20moa rail and my Vortex PST gen 2 5-25 had enough elevation in it no problem. Just order a gen 2 Razor 3-18 so hopefully going to try it out this weekend.

 

[Rob01]

Razor II 3-18x should have about 21 mils or so after a 50 yard zero. Plenty of elevation to dial out to around 400 yards and then use the reticle for farther.

 

[Cmkaco]

Do most people use MOA or MIL reticles?

 

[Rob01]

Do most people use MOA or MIL reticles?

Personal preference. Either will work fine.

 

[brianf]

Pleeeeeease keep this from becoming another mil vs moa thread. Lol

 

[Cmkaco]

brianf, sorry, man, didn't know I was opening a can of worms. New to this game, and never bought a scope before. Not trying to insight a riot or anything. Just seen the two different kinds. I am sure both are great. Is there a thread in the scope section that might address this, so we don't do it again here?

 

[WDE6mmShooter]

OP, I currently have my Vudoo barreled action in a MPA Competition Chassis. I also have two Bighorn barreled actions in MPA chassis as well. The advice I would offer is to set up your Vudoo barreled action as similar as possible to your main center fire rifle if you plan on using it as a trainer.

 

[brianf]

There are more than a few moa/mil in the search.

Not aimed at you but there are guys in each camp who get crazy.

It really comes down to what’s comfortable for you and how you brain processes the info.

Some moa guys just never grasp the mil and the opposite for mil guys.

As long as the bullet hits the where the cross is aimed I’m happy with either.

To bad it doesn’t more often for me...lol

The only thing that really counts is the turrets match the ret.

 

[Cmkaco]

I have read a few articles on how to pick a scope. It seems like it is whatever you get used to, or if you shoot both, if you get acclimated to both. I could see where if somebody started with one the other might be like speaking a foreign language.

 

[Rob01]

Only that way for people who have the misguided notion either is linked to a linear form. Just two ways to get to the same place. If you understand one then you can understand the other.

 

[flatland1]

I'm a conventional stock guy - have owned a couple of Gary Eliseo's tubegun chassis with Pierce TG actions for XC HP shooting, and they worked fine for that. But am definitely more comfortable with a McM A5, Manners T4A or PRS1 for practical/tactical shooting. I've had my 1st V-22 in a T4A Elite since putting it together, but after putting a new V-22 22" Kukri in a PRS1, I ordered another PRS1 and will probably sell the T4A. I got the Kukri done in sniper gray, and want to put it in the PRS1 in scorched earth camo that's on order; will be putting the old original graphite black V-22 in the Kukri'e Elite GAP PRS1. I bedded the T4A a year or so ago, and thought it might've shot just a bit better after - but wouldn't bet the farm on it. Haven't bedded the Kukri into the PRS1, just glued pillars in, and torqued it to the 60-62 in/lbs that Mike Bush recommended - it shoots great set up like this.

 

[ratton]

McMillan A1-3

 

[quickdraw]

Both of my rifles are in MPA BA Lite chassis. Good egos, adjustable for about anyone and carries the barreled action well.

 

[*AimSmall*]

@flatland1 do you have the sniper grey kukri in the scorched earth prs1? Thats exactly what I was thinking about doing. Do you have a picture of it?