Chassis vs. Stock

[Whiskey_Tango]

I've been going back and forth on this as well for a PRS match build. I'm leaning towards XLR element chassis. Primarily because of cost (~$560 w/ stock). Also the LOP and comb adjustability.

I was eyeballing B&C's and HS precisions as well, but by the time you buy bottom metal you're lookin' at $600-$700. If I had unlimited funds I'd probably go with Manners.

[bug_eyedmonster]

What is your opinion of the I.M.B. used in some KMW stocks?

"The I.M.B. is not a V-Block. Instead, I elected to use a full hemsiphere curved block with a slight interference fit. This approach gives maximum surface contact with the receiver and also supports the receiver all the way to the top waterline of the stock."

This seems like a more detailed version of the Manners mini chassis they hide in their stocks (not that you are asking me). While I think it's nice, I highly doubt this will work as well as a (proper) bedding job. Like blind dates set up by grandparents, two unknowns are likely not to mate perfectly.

[Paul_R]

It tells me that everyone that claims a chassis is superior because it doesn't need to be bedded is full of poop.

It tells me that people are easily talked out of their money.

Gunsmiths make a lot of money bedding rifles. What's that tell you?

Remember, not everybody is crushed by a group that's .050" too big.

[jimmykan]

This seems like a more detailed version of the Manners mini chassis they hide in their stocks (not that you are asking me). While I think it's nice, I highly doubt this will work as well as a (proper) bedding job. Like blind dates set up by grandparents, two unknowns are likely not to mate perfectly.

So what's the analogy for an epoxy bedding job then?

A custom ordered silicone sex doll made to your exact specifications?

[sigstroker]

There are a lot of videos about epoxy bedding MDT and other types of chassis which always confused me because I thought that the advantage of a chassis was that you didn't need to do additional bedding.

You don't. Unless you want to squeeze the last nth out of the groups. But there are plenty of articles and videos of factory chassis guns from Bergara, MPA, Savage, Howa, Tikka, etc grouping .6 moa or better. For recreational shooters in PRS, etc that's plenty good and you don't have to worry about messing up your bedding job every time you take your action out of the stock.

[russ69]

Most chassis systems have really poor bedding.

As always Randall has it right. I have had many rifles in and out of machined stocks and conventional bedded stocks. I have never had any rifle shoot better than when they are in a properly bedded conventional stock. I love my chassis fitted rifles for the ergos but I like the conventional stocks for their accuracy.

I guess I need a tube gun, a fully bedded chassis system.

[diver160651]

[ar15barrels]

What is your opinion of the I.M.B. used in some KMW stocks?

"The I.M.B. is not a V-Block. Instead, I elected to use a full hemsiphere curved block with a slight interference fit. This approach gives maximum surface contact with the receiver and also supports the receiver all the way to the top waterline of the stock."

That's better than a V-block.
Even better is to epoxy bed it.

[ar15barrels]

Nonsense.

How many chassis systems have you personally checked for bedding stress?

[ar15barrels]

There are a lot of videos about epoxy bedding MDT and other types of chassis which always confused me because I thought that the advantage of a chassis was that you didn't need to do additional bedding.

Marketing people do not generally deal in reality.
The marketing people love to tell you that bedding is not required.
"required" is the key here.

If you want the best accuracy that you can get, you want stress free bedding of the reciever.
To get stress free bedding, you need an epoxy bedding job.
NONE of the machined chassis give a fully stress free bedding of the reciever without the addition of epoxy.
That's why you see the bedding videos.

Fiberglass and wood stocks do not need bedding either, unless you want to improve accuracy...

[sigstroker]

I guess I need a tube gun, a fully bedded chassis system.

Isn't that the Ruger Precision Rifle more or less?

[symbology]

The chassis allows you to fold the buttstock for easier storage or packing and most of them are very adjustable.
They already have a myriad of mounting points on them so they work well for tactical shooting and nightime hunting.

Traditional stocks generally need the hardware added and the bottom metal milled to fit so most nowadays opt to skip going to the gunsmith.

It is really personal preference.

Lynn make a great point. Chassis are ready to go, the action may still need to be skim bedded.. Stocks will usually need bottom metal parts which will cost additional $ and the actions will need to be bedded.

[russ69]

Isn't that the Ruger Precision Rifle more or less?

No. A tube gun has the rifle receiver glued into a supporting tube. Think of it as 100% bedding. http://www.gotxring.com/

[diver160651]

Chassis vs. Stock

Marketing people do not generally deal in reality.

The marketing people love to tell you that bedding is not required.

"required" is the key here.



If you want the best accuracy that you can get, you want stress free bedding of the reciever.

To get stress free bedding, you need an epoxy bedding job.

NONE of the machined chassis give a fully stress free bedding of the reciever without the addition of epoxy.

That's why you see the bedding videos.



Fiberglass and wood stocks do not need bedding either, unless you want to improve accuracy...

When you bed a chassis like a Cadex, AX or MPA, do you sandblast them first?

If they are already getting 3/8, some 1/4 and occasionally better off a bipod, how much better to they seem to shoot?

What do you charge? I often see $250-$295

All honest questions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DArBad]

Hi folks,

I noticed more and more people using a chassis instead of stocks recently, and I wanted to see if maybe I'm missing something. I've tried to shoot with a chassis, and it just wasn't my cup of tea. I've always preferred using a proper stock, such as Manners or McMillan, but that's just me.

So, is it a cost thing? I've seen some chassis systems going for more than some stocks, but have seen some cheaper options that are gaining popularity. Is it the ability to bolt on accessories? I'm just curious, that's all.

Jerry

The chassis thing is quite a recent phenomenon, comparatively speaking. For many years, in most gun forums and from reading the works of those rifle accuracy gurus, the full aluminum bedding seems to be the standard thing to get/do (McMillan or others) for improved accuracy.

Only time will tell if the chassis thing will last or will be one of those passing fad.

Just my humble opinion.