You know, they sell weight sets that bolt into the chassis to INCREASE the weight. The standard comp chassis is a little over 5lbs. With MTU barrels and other full, no taper barrels it's common to add weight to the rear to balance the rifle more even after choosing the heaviest barrel possible. The heaviest contours are what you see at matches.
I've never heard anyone who shoots matches complaining their rifle was too heavy. A quick survey of the rifles will rarely find a fluted barrel. From improvised positions off bags the heavier, the more stable, the better. I feel like a heavy match rifle isn't any advantage prone if your technique is good and you're loading your bipod, but I definitely think that 10 to 20 extra lbs off bags makes a difference. When you throw your Game-changer up there, and slap all that weight into it, and it sort of curls around the limb and nests into place you'll appreciate a very heavy rifle. Again, not as much on stages where you can load into it, but off barricades and anything free recoiling weight is your best friend.
It's all perspective. I just don't say anything when I hear guys bitching about carrying a rifle in the mountains, or carrying heavy shotguns through switchgrass. I carry a 17lb .300WM for elk, and I still hunt pheasants occasionally (when in 5 shell states) with an 10lb A5. I often hunt with a Marine from a heavy weapons platoon. Don't bitch about the weight of your weapon around him, or you will hear some funny shit about what a pussy you are.
Lug around a 25lb, comp gun for two solid days of shooting, and no hunting gun is going to seem heavy. It changes your perspective. To me weight isn't even a concern on a competition build except when you're done with what you want you may feel you need to add weight, which is no big deal. Just IMHO.
That pic is from last weekend at the MPA Spring Shootout. Obviously there were lots of MPA chassis rifles there.
Phis Cashin is one of the true gentlemen of the industry. He's pure class. He gave all his ROs a $500 MPA gift certificate at the end of the match. Yes, he made his money on Ingram Mac 10 clones, but PRS is his passion. The "new" direction of the company is because he loves and lives the sport. His stuff is solid because he shoots and competes, and knows what he's doing, like a lot of people making precision rifle gear. It's a lot easier to figure it out when you're actually doing it.
