I searched for a discussion, but didn't find anything. They've been out for long enough now that people should have fairly well worked out opinions on them. What's the good and the bad? Are they worth the price? Thank you.
MDT HNT26
- Thread starter Hecouldgoalltheway
- Start date
I broke the grip and I’ve broken the forend. I had an early version. MDT replaced both no questions asked. The screws that hold the foreend on need to be tight. Check them frequently. I did bed the action and the recoil lug was a little weird to bed but it worked.
I really like this chassis, it eat recoil.
I shoot a 6.5cm in nrl hunter open light class.
I really like this chassis, it eat recoil.
I shoot a 6.5cm in nrl hunter open light class.
When you broke those parts, was it serious impact, or instances one could reasonably expect on a rough hunt?
The forend was and still is usable. The arca rail cracked at the very end. I just ran my bipod back an extra 1.5”.
The grip was a different story. If memory serves it delaminated and was floppy. It wasn’t stable enough to level my gun. It also broke by leveling my gun while shooting prone (not at a match just at my practice spot)
That said I’ve beat the living shit out of this gun and have not had any issues beyond those 2. Would have no issues taking it on a long hunt
The grip was a different story. If memory serves it delaminated and was floppy. It wasn’t stable enough to level my gun. It also broke by leveling my gun while shooting prone (not at a match just at my practice spot)
That said I’ve beat the living shit out of this gun and have not had any issues beyond those 2. Would have no issues taking it on a long hunt
Yes for the 2 cals I shot out of them
6.5cm and 7prc. Great design I like it a lot
6.5cm and 7prc. Great design I like it a lot
The QD on my forend has come loose on the side I use, but is still holding. I can send it in for a replacement. Just need to get around to calling for the RMA number. Otherwise, it's a very nice lightweight chassis. I would not hesitate to buy another.
It's on my list for a lightweight 300 blk build, but have read reviews about the arca getting easily torn up and getting an aluminum arca mlok is recommended. I have no experience with the chassis. Good thread op.
Yea, cf.
Local shop does a recoil lug fix if anyone is curious. I don’t have a HNT26
Worked fine on my 204 Ruger. Got a few yotes last fall with it.
Decided to put it on my 7 SAW, didn’t work out, forend got loose twice causing big zero shift, it’s also a bitch to shoot, don’t like the recoil impulse, even tried one of the new fancy 3d printed honeycomb recoil pad and didn’t really improve. Manners LRH and MPA ultralite were much better at soaking the recoil and I’m definitely more accurate with these. I don’t even know how guys shoot 300 PRC on that chassis but they must be better shot than me.
Couldn’t trust it for bear hunting this spring so it’s going back on 204R and the 7SAW is going back to its MPA ultra lite.
The design on the HNT forend is a bit weak to be honest, it’s held by tiny screws that you want to be careful not to overtorque but if you shoot a lot, they can end up loosening due to recoil. I’d prefer a 1 piece design, maybe the next generation will solve that. Also I didn’t like the carbon fiber grip, swapped to an Ergo.
Went with a pork sword for my 300 BLK with the new arca forend. I actually like it quite a bit. Lightweight, balanced great and feels rock solid.
Decided to put it on my 7 SAW, didn’t work out, forend got loose twice causing big zero shift, it’s also a bitch to shoot, don’t like the recoil impulse, even tried one of the new fancy 3d printed honeycomb recoil pad and didn’t really improve. Manners LRH and MPA ultralite were much better at soaking the recoil and I’m definitely more accurate with these. I don’t even know how guys shoot 300 PRC on that chassis but they must be better shot than me.
Couldn’t trust it for bear hunting this spring so it’s going back on 204R and the 7SAW is going back to its MPA ultra lite.
The design on the HNT forend is a bit weak to be honest, it’s held by tiny screws that you want to be careful not to overtorque but if you shoot a lot, they can end up loosening due to recoil. I’d prefer a 1 piece design, maybe the next generation will solve that. Also I didn’t like the carbon fiber grip, swapped to an Ergo.
Went with a pork sword for my 300 BLK with the new arca forend. I actually like it quite a bit. Lightweight, balanced great and feels rock solid.
Mine came loose as well. They sent me a new forend straight up.
It appears the QD cup is just a press fit. I feel like they should go with some sort of two piece deal to sandwich the forend.
My complaint with the HNT26 Arca dovetail is that it's not to RRS 1.5" spec. It's kind of loose. I ended up getting a custom rail made by Sawtooth Rifles that fits the 4.5 MLOK slots on the bottom of the HNT26 forend. That rail should be on the Sawtooth Rifles site and it has RRS-Lock for additional measure - https://www.sawtoothrifles.com/product/r-lock-arca-dovetail-rail-mdt-hnt26/
You guys are making me happy they didn't have what I wanted.
So it sounds like skip the arca rail and add aluminum, and bed the recoil lug.
So it sounds like skip the arca rail and add aluminum, and bed the recoil lug.
I have two of them and haven’t had any issues as of yet. Hunted with one in a 7 saum and then switched it to a 22 creed for coyote season. Love everything about it. I did switch the grip right away to the elite as that’s what I’m used to. I have one on a 300 win mag but haven’t shot it much yet. I have not experienced any zero shifts with either of them so far.
A bit of a necro post; I’ve got an HNT26 folder coming for my T3X in 6.5CM. I will hunt it and shoot some NRL matches, even some PRS stuff because why not? I’m just tired of carrying around 30-06 to 375 weight rifle, especially for non-bear duties. The full on match rifle is in an ACC for geeking out.
This is an issue we have since addressed and brought a lot more control to our molded CF dovetails, especially with the launch of the CRBN!
I wasn't aware that Matt at Sawtooth was making a rail so thanks for sharing
I sent him my foreend late last year so he could make one.I wasn't aware that Matt at Sawtooth was making a rail so thanks for sharing
Thanks for doing that. I picked one up as soon as he released them back in early February. The fit is perfect and the R-lock holes lock solidly into place on the tripod.
Attachments
Well, no need to thank me because I was doing it for me. LOL.
But I did thank Matt personally because I ran into him as he RO'ed at the Mason Valley NRL Hunter match earlier this year.
