Lightest Chassis

[lennyo3034]

I'm looking at putting together a lightweight rifle for hunting. I currently use a Tikka T3x, but since all my high usage guns have AR or chassis ergonomics, I'd like to move to something like that since it's more natural for me. I am selling the Tikka to a friend and looking to build my own gun. First is the chassis as that tends to be one of the heavier parts to the gun. At the moment I'm looking at the KRG X-ray as I used to have one and it was relatively light weight. However I recall the weight on it being more towards the front and I would prefer one with weight towards the rear for better overall balance. It's grip interface is also not the same as all my other guns, which use an Ergo deluxe or AICS grip.

Are there any chassis systems out that are of particularly light weight?

 

[The King]

I think part of the issue you are going to run into is that almost nothing in a bolt gun is in the rear. So a lightweight chassis is always going to be front heavy. The only way to counteract that is to put weight back there.

The KRG chassis was the very first thing that came to mind when you asked this question. I'm thinking that a carbon fiber barrel is a good place to start to get that weight to move back.

The AICS chassis is a bruiser.

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

^ yeah lightweight guns in general tend to get front heavy. The barrel usually is the main source of a gun's weight. So unless you go bullpup, or a skinny barrel you will feel front heavy with a lighter build.

If you want a lighter chassis with an ergo grip, id say get the XLR carbon. Im not sure how light you want it but I built a faaaiiirly light bolt gun with that chassis. I think chassis weighs about 3.5lbs. Not sure if its as light as you had in mind though. It felt more balanced than the MDT LSS chassis my friend has. Although you can configure the LSS to be lighter than the XLR, it gets pretty dang front heavy if you do that.

 

[cruze5]

i have Tikkas in a Cadex and KRG. i have no idea how much both rifles weight currently. but i am betting the Cadex is lighter

 

[NotMalware]

The LSS chassis is pretty light weight.

https://mdttac.com/products/lss-chassis-system

 

[delfuego]

XLR carbon is very light. I didn't realize how light until I switched over to an MPA...

 

[NotMalware]

You could add weight to the back of the LSS to balance the rifle. Since it's so minimalist to begin with you'll probably end up with something pretty light weight in the end.

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

Oh another option would be the MPA Lite chassis. I hear good things about that one though ive never been behind one. If I were to buy a lightweight chassis right now, thatd be it, since i already have an MPA chassis it will feel the same. You can put any AR grip you want on it, and to this day ive never felt a chassis as comfy as an MPA, and ive tried ALOT.

So my top 2 recomendations: XLR carbon, and MPA BA Lite... (Make sure its the Lite version... The regular versions are tanks hehe)

 

[lennyo3034]

I forgot about the MPA, that may be a better way to go. The XLR carbon is listed at 27 ounces but that's without buttstock, which can weigh a significant amount. The MPA is listed at 29 total.

 

[kingzero]

The MPA lite is listed at 2.9 pounds without recoil pad. Which comes to 46.4 ounces.

 

[lennyo3034]

The MPA lite is listed at 2.9 pounds without recoil pad. Which comes to 46.4 ounces.

I can't fucking read, that makes a lot more sense.

 

[Baner]

Built a somewhat lightweight gun for PRS and hunting.

T3x action.
Hardy carbon barrel 26".
MDT LSS chassi + MDT Skeleton carbine stock with the adjustable cheek rest.
Accu-Tac SR5 bipod.
Nightforce Beast 5-25 scope( going to switch this one out for something lighter later) +Spuhr extended mount.

Weights in at just under 13lbs with a loaded MDT polymer mag 10 shots(6xc). Could probably shave off 2 pounds or so by changing the bipod and getting a March 3-24x52 and some light weight mounts.

Can throw the chassi on the scale later today to check what it weights with the stock and grip alone.

 

[lennyo3034]

So I was hoping to have a setup with rifle and scope under 10 lbs. This is for hunting so I don't necessarily need a heavy contour barrel. Doesn't look like that's going to happen for a reasonable (under 2k) price.

My current rifle is a T3x lite and it weighs 7.5 lb with scope (Leica ER). But it appears a chassis will add more tha 2.5 pounds.

 

[308Gunner]

If you want a chassis yes you are going to add weight, you have 2 choices live with the weight and work out a little more or forget the chassis and maybe look at Manners 100% carbon fiber without the mini chassis and bed it. Don't know how much you will save going that route but it is an option.

 

[Longshot85]

Another member has an APO takeoff chassis from a savage factory rifle and has it listed as 3.9 lbs. It has AR ergonomics and parts, it is also a folder too with a front handguard tube.

 

[lennyo3034]

Another option is one of the new rifles coming out. The fix may be out of my price range but the Christensen MPR looks about right and comes in at a good weight too. I've heard mixed reviews about them however. I recently received a barrel from them for an AR-15 and am not impressed. Haven't shot it yet but it has a lot of signs of use for a "new" barrel.

 

[BurnOut]

KRG Habu!

Seriously, though, this is something that I am looking at as well for my next build, and at the moment I'm leaning towards the Manners Platinum layup... but that may change by the time I move forward on purchasing components...