What do you look for in a rifle chassis

mi223

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Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
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West Michigan
I have been looking at chassis for a while and it is makeing my head hurt. I have read other threads such as "what is you go to chassis". I would like to to look deaper into this. Why is your favorite what it is? What features do you look for? Open top barrel channel or tubular style? Just curious what other people see when they look at all the options.
I am sure looks is a big one and obviously adjustability, but what else?
 
The ability to be comfortable.

KRG has always been my best balance of cheek position, buttpad angle, and firing grip. It sounds weird, but some stocks I’ve had in the past are exhausting to shoot, because I felt like I was always having to hold myself in a certain way to get lined up properly.

When you find a chassis you can setup to your liking, it just feels different. You can be comfortable behind the rifle and focus on the fundamentals of marksmanship.
 
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For starters, I think you need to look hard at your requirements and expectation from an individual perspective, some futures you should be looking for are universal and some are specially focused on certain types of shooting.

For me, as a professional shooter one of my requirements is that the platform be night vision capable. This mean I'm looking for a chassis that can mount UNS, lights, lasers, the works. Sounds simple but I need to find a chassis that has the reastate to mount all that stuff in the right spots and not interfear when shooting of barricades and is bearable to carry about. On top of being able to mount the things I want, in the right place, I need a chassis that offers no/to minimal shift of those laser when loading, typically not more that a MOA of shift. Again this is just a exapmle of my individual requirements, but you get the idea. Hunters, PRS shooters, Palma guys are all going to have different takes on what you need from a chassis. In reagrds to tubes vs. open tops I prefer the tubes as they typically offer more mounting room but also because it feels a lot like a carbine forend and as a fight rifle, I think it makes a little more sense.

More on the side of the universal needs, as others have hit on already, you should really focus on adjustably. This is a huge part of shooting to your full potential. If your uncommortable and forcing your body to fit the gun as opposed to having a gun fit you you then you wasting energy that could be put to use focusing on the fundamentals or reading wind. I grew up cutting my teeth on a H&S Precision (LOP adjustment only) and sure you can make it work but after transitioning to an AI 2.0 it was a huge relief. Progressively I've moved on to the KRG, RACS and eventual to the AX which you can make fit like a glove and is all but effortless to shot.

Lastly magazine compatibility might be of consideration but doesn't need much explanation.
 
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Good thoughts guys. I currently have a xlr element that i really like. I ordered one of the bighorn origin actions and want to find a chassis for it. Trying to figure out if i get another element or try something new.

Btw this rifle will be 75%recreational shooting 20% prs style matches and 5% hunting
 
Good thoughts guys. I currently have a xlr element that i really like. I ordered one of the bighorn origin actions and want to find a chassis for it. Trying to figure out if i get another element or try something new.

Btw this rifle will be 75%recreational shooting 20% prs style matches and 5% hunting

It really is a lot of personal preference. There are obviously chassis tailored more towards hunting or prs, but a lot of it is personal fit. I have tried XLR, MPA, Manners, HS, AICS, and the KRG fits ME the best. Completely personal opinion obviously.
 
I took a chance on JAE, and have found it to be the most comfortable stock/chassis to be behind, bar none. I purchased a second JAE chassis for my ELR .300NM rig, I loved it so much.

The chassis exudes quality. There was obviously a lot of time and thought put into that chassis, and has excellent craftsmanship to match. The customer service is top notch, Lisa of JAE is extremely helpful and very prompt to address any questions or potential issues. I also love that they continue to evolve the chassis. The full length ARCA/RRS rail is now out, and in the near future they are coming out with NV mounts and adjustable bag riders. The only real downside is the cost, but I believe you definitely get what you pay for with this chassis.

Another popular chassis brand is MPA. They are probably the most innovative chassis manufacturer around. They are very pro-active in coming out with advancements in chassis technology, which is cool to see. Although I'm not big on adding a bunch of doo-dads to my rifle (barricade stops, etc.), as I like to keep things simple while focusing on the fundamentals, I can see the allure to the MPA.
 
I’d say it depends what you’re using it for. I’ve used an XLR Evo and currently went to the Envy chassis. I like the versatility of the Envy, multiple QD ports, level, Arca Swiss rail built in for tripod setup. XLR is finally offering more and more accessories that are decently priced like the Arca quick-adjust barricade block. Most importantly, it fits me. When I drop in behind it, everything falls into place. I’m obviously biased I’ve stuck with what works for me. If you like the Element, check out the Envy.
 
ive become a chassis guy over the years, for the modularity as stated before and i got tired of bedding and its durability issues with some solvents and frequent dis/re-assembly (hot wet environments).

biggest issue i have found with chassis is the weight distribution, and height of the action.
i have shot more than my share of chassis and once you get off the bipod they dont feel like a system. feels like a set of parts all screwed together, no cohesiveness.
and some of the chassis just have the action too high up for proper balance.

i happen to be a fan of the AX (post '14).
 
I really like full tool less adjustability as I shoot prone and bench and occasionally have my wife shooting so quick adjustment is just handy. I also tend to like enclosed barrel channels but that’s not something I would rule a chassis out for.
 
I really like full tool less adjustability as I shoot prone and bench and occasionally have my wife shooting so quick adjustment is just handy. I also tend to like enclosed barrel channels but that’s not something I would rule a chassis out for.

Why is your preference for enclosed barrel channels? I like the look of xlr carbon but sometimes I wonder if it wouldnt be as stable off of baricades as the wide flat bottom of the element or envy.
 
If you're fortunate enough to have the ability getting to sit behind several to see which one fits you, you may save yourself some good amount of heartache and money. Spending the highest dollar amount may just mean you have the nicest quality chassis but not necessarily the most comfortable to you.

I bought a Cadex awhile back site unseen to try my first hand at a chassis after years with stocks. It was exceptional in build quality. However, I personally just never could get consistently comfortable behind it.

Was ready to give up on the chassis notion all together and go back to stocks but made the "mistake" of pulling a Tikka TacA1 off the shelf and it was the feeling I was hoping for with the other one, go figure. Needless to say it was bought on the spot and I sold the Cadex to a friend. Time will tell the durability off the tikka chassis but for now every time I shoot the thing i seem to just fall naturally behind it and shoot it consistentally better.
 
Why is your preference for enclosed barrel channels? I like the look of xlr carbon but sometimes I wonder if it wouldnt be as stable off of baricades as the wide flat bottom of the element or envy.
Preference is mainly due to things like helping with mirage and offering some flexibility with attachments (like MK magnetospeed mount). The octagon ones may be a bit less stable my experience is with more squared off bottom ones ala apo forends think krg is making a similar forend that you can add later if you wish.
 
as far as the round forend, with alot of guys attacking bags and all kinds of crap to the forend shape has become less important.
unless you want to double a bench then you need the old wide flat bag rider etc.

with the newer chassis haveing so many rail interfaces i have started making my own little attachments for my needs.
when my little ones want to shoot i have a quick detach scope ring that has a fat water bottle.
ill pack it tight with sand (or what ever is around so its not heavy to carry from car) clip it in front of the mag well to add weight to lessen recoil.
or add a u shaped bent plate for riding bags better.
use your imagination a little.